나중에 봐요.
najunge bwayo.
See you later.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
The go-to polite way to say 'See you later' in Korean when the next meeting time isn't fixed.
- Means: 'See you later' or 'I will see you at a later time.'
- Used in: Casual workplaces, with acquaintances, or ending a friendly phone call.
- Don't confuse: Use '이따 봐요' if you're meeting again later the same day.
Explanation at your level:
Significado
A casual farewell, indicating a meeting at a later time.
Contexto cultural
The 'Meal Promise': Saying 'Let's eat later' is often just a way to say 'I like you' and doesn't always result in a meal. Hierarchy is everything. Using '봐요' to a boss is a major mistake; always use '뵙겠습니다'. In KakaoTalk, '나중에 봐요' is often accompanied by emojis like 👋 or 😊 to soften the tone. Koreans prefer vague farewells over definitive ones to keep social options open and avoid sounding too final.
The Tilde Trick
In text messages, write '나중에 봐요~' with a tilde to sound much warmer and less robotic.
The Boss Rule
Never say '봐요' to your boss. It's a quick way to look unprofessional. Use '뵙겠습니다'.
Significado
A casual farewell, indicating a meeting at a later time.
The Tilde Trick
In text messages, write '나중에 봐요~' with a tilde to sound much warmer and less robotic.
The Boss Rule
Never say '봐요' to your boss. It's a quick way to look unprofessional. Use '뵙겠습니다'.
Don't Wait by the Phone
If someone says '나중에 밥 먹고 봐요', don't expect a text five minutes later. It's often just a polite closing.
Pair it with a Wish
Combine it with '조심히 가세요' (Go safely) for a perfect, natural-sounding farewell.
Ponte a prueba
You are leaving work and saying goodbye to a colleague of the same rank. Which is most appropriate?
오늘 수고하셨어요. _______!
'나중에 봐요' is the perfect polite-but-friendly level for a colleague.
Complete the sentence to say 'See you later' in a polite way.
오늘 즐거웠어요. ____ 봐요.
'나중에' means later, which fits the context of a farewell.
Match the phrase to the correct time frame.
When should you use '이따 봐요' vs '나중에 봐요'?
'이따' refers to a short time within the same day.
Complete the dialogue between a student and a teacher.
Student: 선생님, 안녕히 계세요! Teacher: 그래, 민수야. ________.
The teacher uses polite speech to the student (or 'banmal' if they are close, but '봐요' is a safe polite choice).
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
나중에 vs 이따
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo, it is too casual. Use '나중에 뵙겠습니다' or '감사합니다' to end an interview.
Yes, it is very common and polite to use with parents.
'나중에' means 'later,' while '다음에' means 'next time.' They are often interchangeable in farewells.
You can drop the '요' and just say '나중에 봐.'
Not usually, but if said very abruptly without a smile, it could sound a bit short. Always add a '수고하세요' or '안녕' to be safe.
'봬요' is a contraction of '뵈어요,' which is the polite form of the humble verb '뵙다.' It's slightly more respectful than '봐요.'
Yes, it's actually a very safe way to end a conversation with an acquaintance even if you don't have plans to meet.
In a friendly or casual business email, yes. In a very formal document, use '다음에 뵙기를 기약하겠습니다.'
Use '내일 봐요' (Naeil bwayo) instead.
They use similar structures, but '다음에 봅시다' is more common in formal North Korean speech.
Frases relacionadas
이따 봐요
similarSee you in a bit (same day)
다음에 봐요
synonymSee you next time
또 봐요
similarSee you again
나중에 뵙겠습니다
specialized formI will see you later (very formal)
잘 가요
similarGo well / Goodbye
Dónde usarla
Leaving the Office
Colleague A: 오늘 수고하셨습니다. 저 먼저 갈게요.
Colleague B: 네, 수고했어요. 나중에 봐요!
Ending a Coffee Date
Minjun: 오늘 이야기 즐거웠어요.
Sumi: 저도요. 우리 나중에 또 봐요.
Texting on KakaoTalk
User 1: 나 이제 수업 들어가야 해.
User 2: 응 알겠어! 나중에 봐~ ^^
Running into an old friend
Friend A: 와, 진짜 오랜만이다! 연락해!
Friend B: 그래, 꼭 연락할게. 나중에 봐요!
Ending a Phone Call
Son: 엄마, 저 이제 밥 먹으러 가요.
Mother: 그래, 맛있게 먹고 나중에 봐요.
Leaving a Study Group
Student A: 오늘 공부 많이 했네요. 다들 안녕!
Student B: 안녕! 나중에 봐요!
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'NA-JUNG' as 'NOT JUST' now—you'll see them later! 'BWAYO' sounds like 'BYE-O' with a 'W'.
Visual Association
Imagine a clock with the hands spinning forward into the future, and two people waving at each other through the glass of the clock face.
Rhyme
나중에 봐요 (Najunge bwayo), don't be a 사요 (sayo - person who just buys things)! Let's meet again, okay-o?
Story
You are at a busy Seoul subway station. You meet a friend but your train is coming. You point to the future (나중) and your eyes (봐요) to say you'll meet again. You shout '나중에 봐요!' as the doors close.
Word Web
Desafío
Try saying '나중에 봐요' to three different people today (even if just in your head) when you finish a task or a video.
In Other Languages
Hasta luego
Korean requires a register shift for elders, whereas 'Hasta luego' is relatively universal.
À plus tard
French speakers use 'À plus' in very casual settings, similar to Korean '나중에 봐'.
Bis später
German doesn't have the 'empty promise' cultural nuance as strongly as Korean.
またね (Mata ne)
Japanese 'Mata ne' is slightly more casual than the polite '나중에 봐요'.
أراك لاحقاً (Araka lahiqan)
Arabic often adds religious blessings (Inshallah) which Korean does not.
待会儿见 (Dài huǐ er jiàn)
Chinese farewells are often more literal about the time frame.
나중에 보입시더 (Gyeongsang)
Regional dialects often sound more 'tough' or 'masculine' compared to Seoul's '봐요'.
Até logo
Portuguese is generally less concerned with hierarchical verb endings.
Easily Confused
Both mean 'See you later' in English.
Use '이따' if you'll see them before you go to sleep today. Use '나중에' for anything further away.
Learners think '-세요' is just 'more polite'.
'-세요' is for giving orders or asking questions. '봐요' is for stating your own intent to see them.
Preguntas frecuentes (10)
No, it is too casual. Use '나중에 뵙겠습니다' or '감사합니다' to end an interview.
Yes, it is very common and polite to use with parents.
'나중에' means 'later,' while '다음에' means 'next time.' They are often interchangeable in farewells.
You can drop the '요' and just say '나중에 봐.'
Not usually, but if said very abruptly without a smile, it could sound a bit short. Always add a '수고하세요' or '안녕' to be safe.
'봬요' is a contraction of '뵈어요,' which is the polite form of the humble verb '뵙다.' It's slightly more respectful than '봐요.'
Yes, it's actually a very safe way to end a conversation with an acquaintance even if you don't have plans to meet.
In a friendly or casual business email, yes. In a very formal document, use '다음에 뵙기를 기약하겠습니다.'
Use '내일 봐요' (Naeil bwayo) instead.
They use similar structures, but '다음에 봅시다' is more common in formal North Korean speech.
