What does 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) mean?
- 안녕히 계세요annyeonghi gyeseyo
Goodbye (when you leave)
Polite: safe with most people
안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) means "goodbye" in Korean, said by the person who is leaving to the person who stays. Say it when you walk out of a shop, a classroom or someone's home.
Where it comes from
안녕히 means "in peace" or "safely," and 계세요 is the respectful form of 있다, "to stay" or "to be." So it literally means "stay in peace."
How to use 안녕히 계세요
Think about who is staying. You are leaving and the shopkeeper stays, so you say 안녕히 계세요 and they answer 안녕히 가세요.
It is polite and safe with anyone older or unfamiliar. With friends, the casual version is 잘 있어 (stay well).
Many people also say 수고하세요 when leaving a shop. It is common, but some feel it sounds odd toward someone older, so 안녕히 계세요 is the safer choice.
Examples
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Leaving a convenience store
Leaving the teacher's office
Wrapping up a visit at a friend's parents' home
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 안녕히 계십시오 | Goodbye | Formal. |
| 잘 있어 | Bye (stay well) | Casual, for friends. |
| 수고하세요 | Keep up the good work | Common when leaving a shop or office. |
| 안녕히 가세요 | Goodbye (to someone leaving) | The reply you will hear back. |
Questions learners ask
When do I say annyeonghi gyeseyo instead of annyeonghi gaseyo?
Say 안녕히 계세요 when you are the one leaving. Say 안녕히 가세요 when the other person is leaving.
What is the base form of gyeseyo?
계세요 comes from 계시다, the honorific verb for "to be" or "to stay" used for people you respect.