헤어지다
heeojida[he̞ʌ̹d͡ʑida̠]
To say break up in Korean, meaning to end a relationship, use 헤어지다 (heeojida).
헤어지다 is the common word for a romantic breakup. It is also used more generally to mean to part ways or separate from a person or group. The form 헤어지자 means let's break up and is a direct way to end things with a partner.
Meaning: to end a relationship (verb)
Which one should you use?
이별하다 is a more formal word for parting or a breakup. 관계를 끝내다, to put an end to the relationship, sounds serious or official.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense is 헤어졌다, broke up. To describe being in the middle of a breakup, use 헤어지는 중이다.
How do you pronounce it?
It is romanized as heeojida.
Did you know?
- The word 헤어지다 shares a linguistic ancestor with the verb 헤치다, which means 'to disperse' or 'to push aside' through a crowd.
- While 헤어지다 is the standard term for a breakup, Koreans often use the phrase 우리 그만하자, which literally translates to 'let's stop this', to soften the blow of the news.
- When a separation is caused by death, Koreans use the specific term 사별하다, which treats the 'breakup' as a permanent severance of life rather than a relational choice.
Examples in context
- 우리 헤어지잔 말이야?Are you saying we should break up?Here 헤어지잔 is a shortened way of reporting the suggestion let's break up, so the question asks whether that is what the other person means.
- 저희는 관계를 끝내야겠습니다.We need to end the relationship.
- 우리 헤어져야 할 것 같아I think we should break up.
- 이번에 우리 이별해야겠다.We should break up this time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “break up” translations and entries 헤어지다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 헤어지다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
