To say see you later in Korean, use 이따 봐요 (itta bwayo) when you will meet again the same day, and 나중에 봐요 (najunge bwayo) for an unspecified "later". With friends, drop the 요: 이따 봐 (itta bwa). To someone older or senior, the humble 이따 뵐게요 (itta boelgeyo) or 나중에 뵙겠습니다 (najunge boepgetseumnida) is politer.
- Later today
- 이따 봐요 (itta bwayo)
- Some time later
- 나중에 봐요 (najunge bwayo)
- Soon
- 조만간 봐요 (jomangan bwayo)
- To a senior
- 이따 뵐게요 (itta boelgeyo)
- Casual
- 이따 봐 (itta bwa)
- Level
- A1
What is the difference between 이따, 나중에 and 다음에?
All three translate as "later", but they point to different times. 이따 (itta), or 이따가, means later today: you are meeting this evening, or after lunch. 나중에 (najunge) is later in general, with no fixed time. 다음에 (daeume) is "next time", and is often a polite way to leave plans open.
| Korean | Romanization | When you'll meet | Speech level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 이따 봐요 | itta bwayo | Later today | Polite |
| 이따 봐 | itta bwa | Later today | Casual (반말) |
| 나중에 봐요 | najunge bwayo | Some time later | Polite |
| 조만간 봐요 | jomangan bwayo | Soon | Polite |
| 주말에 봐요 | jumare bwayo | At the weekend | Polite |
| 이따 뵐게요 | itta boelgeyo | Later today | Humble, to someone senior |
| 나중에 뵙겠습니다 | najunge boepgetseumnida | Later | Formal and humble |
봐요 comes from 보다, to see. When the person you will see deserves respect, Korean swaps in the humble verb 뵙다 (boepda), which lowers you rather than raising them: 뵐게요, 뵙겠습니다.
Does 나중에 always mean see you later?
No: on its own, 나중에 just means later, and it can brush something aside as easily as promise a meeting. In this Contos story an actress arrives late for filming and starts to apologise, but the producer cuts her off:
설명은 나중에.Seolmyeongeun najunge.
Korean often drops the verb when it is obvious, so the producer's line is complete as it stands. Add 봐요 and the same word becomes a friendly parting: 나중에 봐요.
What else do Koreans say when they part?
Partings between friends tend to come with a promise to keep in touch, and sometimes a vague invitation.
이따 연락할게.
Itta yeollakalge.
I'll message you later.
Casual.
도착하면 연락해.
Dochakamyeon yeollakae.
Text me when you get there.
잘 지내.
Jal jinae.
Take care.
When you won't see each other for a while.
언제 밥 한번 먹어요.
Eonje bap hanbeon meogeoyo.
Let's get a meal sometime.
A friendly parting line that is often not a firm plan.
잘 지내 shares its verb with the greeting in how to say "How are you?" in Korean: 잘 지냈어? when you meet again.
What mistakes do learners make with see you later?
Spelling is the first. 이따가 (later) is often confused with 있다가 (after staying): "이따가 봐요" is see you later, while "여기 있다가 가요" is "I'll stay here a while, then go". The second is register: 봐요 to your boss is not rude, but 이따 뵐게요 shows the respect a senior expects.
The third is timing. Saying 이따 봐요 on Friday when you will meet on Monday sounds as if you will be back this afternoon; use 월요일에 봐요 (woryoire bwayo), see you on Monday. For goodbyes without a next meeting in sight, see how to say goodbye in Korean; at bedtime, how to say good night in Korean.
Read Drama Behind the Drama in Korean at B2 for rival actors, leaked stories and a producer out of patience.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you pronounce itta bwayo?
Roughly "eet-ta bwa-yo". The ㄸ is a tense t, held briefly with no puff of air, and 봐 is one syllable: "bwa".
Is it ittaga or itdaga?
For "later", it is 이따가 (ittaga), often shortened to 이따. 있다가 (itdaga) is a different word, "after being somewhere", though the two sound almost the same.
How do you say see you soon in Korean?
Say 조만간 봐요 (jomangan bwayo) or 곧 봐요 (got bwayo). With friends, drop the 요: 조만간 봐, 곧 봐.
How do you say see you later to a teacher?
Use the humble verb: 이따 뵐게요 (itta boelgeyo) if it is later today, or 다음에 뵙겠습니다 (daeume boepgetseumnida) for next time. A small bow goes with it.