안녕
annyeong[a̠nɲʌ̹ŋ]
In Korean, goodbye to a friend is expressed as 안녕 (annyeong).
안녕 is a casual expression used for saying goodbye to friends and peers.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 안녕 literally means 'peace' or 'well-being'.
Which one should you use?
You may also use 잘 가 to say 'take care' or 다음에 보자 to say 'see you next time' among friends.
How do you pronounce it?
annyeong
When do people say it?
Waving your hand while saying goodbye is quite common in Korean culture.
Did you know?
- The concept of 'peace' in 안녕 historically referred to being free from illness or disaster. Saying it was less of a greeting and more of a wish for the other person's safety.
- The word 안녕 is composed of two Chinese characters: 安 (peaceful) and 寧 (serenity). This gives the casual phrase a much deeper, more poetic weight than the English 'hi' or 'bye'.
- While 안녕 means 'peace', using it with a stranger or an elder without adding honorifics would be considered extremely rude. It is strictly reserved for those of equal or lower social status.
Examples in context
- 안녕, 내일 봐!annyeong, naeil bwa!Goodbye, see you tomorrow!
- 나 먼저 갈게. 안녕!na meonjeo galge. annyeong!I'm leaving first. Goodbye!
Example conversation
Dohyun and Subin are parting ways after studying at a cafe.
- 도현 Do-hyeon수빈아, 이제 가야겠다.Subin-a, ije gayagetda.Subin, I should go now.
- 수빈 Su-bin응, 오늘 고마웠어.eung, oneul gomawosseo.Yeah, thanks for today.
- 도현 Do-hyeon나도 고마워. 안녕!nado gomawo. annyeong!Thanks too. Bye!
- 수빈 Su-bin잘 가, 안녕!jal ga, annyeong!Go safely, bye!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 안녕, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 안녕, CC BY-SA 4.0.
