잘 가
jal ga[t͡ɕa̠ɭ ka̠]
The English phrase "bye casually" can be translated into Korean as 잘 가 (jal ga).
잘 가 is an informal phrase used to say goodbye to a friend or someone younger when they are leaving. Another simple and common way to say goodbye casually in Korean is 안녕.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adverb 잘 (well) and the verb 가 (go), literally meaning "go well".
Which one should you use?
잘 가 is used when the person you are speaking to is leaving. In contrast, if you are the one leaving and the other person is staying, you would use 잘 있어 (stay well).
How do you pronounce it?
jal ga
Did you know?
- The verb used in 잘 가 was recorded as early as 1447 in the Yongbi eocheon'ga, one of the first works written in hangul. This means the core of this casual farewell has survived for over five centuries.
- Because 잘 가 is a 'low politeness' form, using it with a stranger or a boss is a significant social error that could be seen as quite rude.
- Korean speakers often accompany a casual goodbye with a small wave or a slight nod. However, unlike in English, a very enthusiastic wave can sometimes feel overly dramatic for a casual 잘 가.
Examples in context
- 잘 가, 내일 봐.jal ga, naeil bwa.Bye, see you tomorrow.
- 조심해서 잘 가.josimhaeseo jal ga.Go safely, bye.
- 먼저 갈게, 잘 가!meonjeo galge, jal ga!I'm leaving first, bye!
Example conversation
Subin and Jihoon are parting ways after meeting at a cafe.
- 수빈 Su-bin지훈아, 오늘 즐거웠어.Jihoon-a, oneul jeulgeowosseo.Jihoon, it was fun today.
- 지훈 Ji-hun나도! 다음에 또 만나자.Nado! da-eume tto mannaja.Me too! Let's meet again next time.
- 수빈 Su-bin응, 잘 가!Eung, jal ga!Yeah, bye!
- 지훈 Ji-hun응, 수빈아 잘 가.Eung, Subin-a jal ga.Yeah, bye Subin.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 잘 가, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 가, 잘, 잘 가, CC BY-SA 4.0.
