곧 봐요
got bwayo
The English phrase "I will see you soon" is translated into Korean as 곧 봐요 (got bwayo).
This phrase is a friendly way to say goodbye when you expect to meet the person again in a short time.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adverb 곧 (soon) and the polite verb form 봐요 (see/meet).
Which one should you use?
You can use 조만간 봐 to mean "See you soon" or "Catch you later" in informal settings. If you want to express "I will meet you next time" or "I will see you soon" in a formal context, use 다음에 뵙겠습니다.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase casual and suitable for use with close friends or people younger than you, you can change the ending from 봐요 to 보자 to say 곧 보자. To increase the level of respect and formality, use the humble verb form 뵙겠습니다 instead of 봐요, resulting in 곧 뵙겠습니다.
How do you pronounce it?
got bwayo
Did you know?
- In many Korean social contexts, instead of saying 'see you soon', people often say 'let's eat together' (밥 한번 먹어요), which serves as a much more common way to signal a future meeting.
- The word 곧 was recorded as early as 1447 in the 용비어천가, a celebratory poem written to legitimize the Joseon Dynasty.
- The distinction between 봐요 and 보자 is so strict that using the casual 보자 with a stranger or a superior can be perceived as a serious insult regardless of the friendly intent.
Examples in context
- 김 선생님, 다음에 뵙겠습니다.Mr./Ms. Kim, I will see you soon.
- 알았어. 그럼 조만간 봐!Alright then, see you soon!
- 그럼, 곧 봐요!geureom, got bwayo!Then, see you soon!
Example conversation
Two friends are parting ways after a brief meeting at a cafe.
- 서연 Seo-yeon도현 씨, 이제 가야 해요.Dohyeon ssi, ije gaya haeyo.Dohyeon, I have to go now.
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 조심히 가세요.ne, josimhi gaseyo.Okay, go safely.
- 서연 Seo-yeon우리 곧 봐요!uri got bwayo!See you soon!
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 곧 봐요.ne, got bwayo.Yes, see you soon.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 곧, CC BY-SA 4.0.
