What does 헤어지자 (heeojija) mean?
- 헤어지자heeojija
Let's break up
Casual: friends and people younger than you
헤어지자 (heeojija) means "let's break up" in Korean. It is the casual, direct way to end a relationship, and one of the most dramatic lines in any K-drama.
Where it comes from
It comes from 헤어지다 (heeojida), "to part" or "to separate," plus -자 (-ja), "let's." So it is literally "let's part ways."
How to use 헤어지자
Said between partners, it is serious. Saying it in a small fight and taking it back later is a common source of drama, so many people warn against using it lightly.
To say you already broke up, use the past tense: 우리 헤어졌어, "we broke up."
헤어지다 also simply means to say goodbye and part, like friends heading home after dinner. 헤어지기 싫어 can mean "I don't want to say goodbye (tonight)."
Examples
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Ending a relationship
Tired of fighting
A firm, final decision
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 우리 헤어졌어 | We broke up | Casual past tense. |
| 헤어져요 | Let's break up / We're breaking up (polite) | Polite form. |
| 헤어지다 | To break up; to part | Dictionary form. |
| 헤어지기 싫어 | I don't want to part | Often said at the end of a date. |
Questions learners ask
How do you say "we broke up" in Korean?
Say 우리 헤어졌어 (uri heeojyeosseo). Politely, 헤어졌어요.
Does heeojida only mean breaking up?
No. It also means parting ways in general, like friends saying goodbye after hanging out.