알았어 안녕
arasseo annyeong
The English phrase "ok bye" is expressed in Korean as 알았어 안녕 (arasseo annyeong).
알았어 안녕 is a casual way to acknowledge a point and say goodbye to someone.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb 알았어 (understood/got it) and the greeting 안녕 (hello/goodbye).
Which one should you use?
While 알았어 안녕 is casual, 알겠습니다 안녕히 계세요 is the formal version used with superiors or strangers. Another informal option is 잘 가, which translates to "Go well" and is commonly used among friends and close contacts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
This specific form is informal and should only be used with friends or people younger than you. For instance, the single word 안녕 is a way to say goodbye casually and can be used among friends and peers, especially when parting ways for a short duration. In contrast, if you are parting ways with a client, guest or someone you hold in high regard, 안녕히 가세요 is suitable.
How do you pronounce it?
arasseo annyeong
Did you know?
- The word 안녕 is composed of two Chinese characters meaning 'peace' and 'serenity'. Historically, this greeting was a way to ask if the other person had been living in peace since you last met.
- When saying goodbye, Koreans distinguish between the person staying and the person leaving. 안녕히 계세요 is used for the person staying, while 안녕히 가세요 is for the person departing.
- In Korea, saying 안녕 while bowing your head is the standard gesture. The depth of the bow depends on the social rank of the person you are saying 'bye' to.
Examples in context
- 안녕히 계세요Stay well / Take care
- 안녕히 가세요Go well
- 다음에 봐요See you next time
- 응, 알았어 안녕.eung, arasseo annyeong.Yeah, ok bye.
- 그래, 알았어 안녕.geurae, arasseo annyeong.Alright, ok bye.
Example conversation
Two friends ending a phone call.
- 지은 Ji-eun내일 세 시에 여기서 만나자.naeil se sie yeogiseo mannaja.Let's meet here tomorrow at three.
- 도현 Do-hyeon알았어 안녕!arasseo annyeong!Okay, bye!
- 지은 Ji-eun응, 내일 봐.eung, naeil bwa.Yeah, see you tomorrow.
- 도현 Do-hyeon잘 자.jal ja.Sleep well.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 안녕, CC BY-SA 4.0.
