Phrase in 30 Seconds
A polite and common way to say 'see you soon' when you expect to meet someone again within the same day.
- Means: 'See you in a short while' or 'See you later today'.
- Used in: Office breaks, hanging up phone calls, or running quick errands.
- Don't confuse: Do not use this for meetings happening tomorrow or next week.
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
Used to say goodbye with the expectation of seeing the person soon.
Contexte culturel
The 'Pali-pali' culture means that '잠시 후에' often literally means 'very soon'. If you are late after saying this, it can be seen as disrespectful of the other person's time. In Korean offices, using the formal '잠시 후에 뵙겠습니다' when stepping out for a smoke or coffee break shows that you are still 'on the clock' mentally and respect the hierarchy. On KakaoTalk, Koreans often use the 'running' emoji (🏃♂️) alongside this phrase to show they are in a hurry to get back to the conversation. Saying 'See you soon' is a way to avoid 'abruptness'. Korean social interaction prefers smooth transitions over sharp endings.
The 'Yo' Rule
Always keep the '요' unless you are 100% sure the person is younger than you or a very close friend.
Don't use for tomorrow!
If you say this on Friday and won't see them until Monday, they will think you are coming back to the office tonight.
The 'Yo' Rule
Always keep the '요' unless you are 100% sure the person is younger than you or a very close friend.
Don't use for tomorrow!
If you say this on Friday and won't see them until Monday, they will think you are coming back to the office tonight.
Pair with a reason
Adding a reason like '커피 사올게요' (I'll get coffee) before the phrase makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
The Smile Factor
In Korea, this phrase is almost always accompanied by a small wave or a nod.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank to say 'See you in a bit' politely.
잠시 ___ 봐요.
'후에' means 'after', which is required for this expression.
Which situation is appropriate for '잠시 후에 봐요'?
When should you use this phrase?
The phrase is for short-term reunions on the same day.
Complete the dialogue.
가: 저 화장실 좀 다녀올게요. 나: 네, ________.
When someone is going to the bathroom and coming back, 'See you in a bit' is the natural response.
Match the formality level to the phrase.
Match '잠시 후에 뵙겠습니다' with its correct level.
The use of '뵙겠습니다' makes it very formal/humble.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Formality Levels
Banque d exercices
5 exercices잠시 ___ 봐요.
'후에' means 'after', which is required for this expression.
When should you use this phrase?
The phrase is for short-term reunions on the same day.
가: 저 화장실 좀 다녀올게요. 나: 네, ________.
When someone is going to the bathroom and coming back, 'See you in a bit' is the natural response.
Match '잠시 후에 뵙겠습니다' with its correct level.
The use of '뵙겠습니다' makes it very formal/humble.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, but '잠시 후에 뵙겠습니다' is safer and more professional.
'잠시' is slightly more formal/Sino-Korean, while '잠깐' is more native/casual. Both work in this phrase.
In spoken Korean, '에' is sometimes dropped ('잠시 후 봐요'), but for learners, keeping it is better.
'봐요' is the standard. '봬요' is a contraction of '뵙다' and is used in more formal contexts.
Yes, it's understandable, but '후에' is much more common for greetings.
Usually anywhere from 5 minutes to 3 hours. Anything longer, use '나중에'.
Yes, very often! You can even just write '잠시후봐요'.
Then don't use this phrase! It's a promise to return.
Only if you are meeting them later that same day. Otherwise, use '감사합니다'.
'이따 봐' is the most common casual/slang-adjacent version.
Expressions liées
이따 봐요
similarSee you later (today)
나중에 봐요
similarSee you later
다음에 봐요
contrastSee you next time
금방 올게요
builds onI'll be right back
조금 있다가 봐요
similarSee you in a little while
Où l'utiliser
Office Coffee Break
Colleague A: 커피 한 잔 마시고 올게요. (I'll go have a cup of coffee.)
Colleague B: 네, 잠시 후에 봐요! (Okay, see you in a bit!)
Ending a Phone Call
Friend A: 나 지금 도착했어. (I just arrived.)
Friend B: 그래? 나도 다 왔어. 잠시 후에 봐요! (Really? I'm almost there too. See you in a bit!)
Running an Errand
Sibling: 편의점 갔다 올게. (I'm going to the convenience store.)
Me: 응, 잠시 후에 봐. (Yeah, see you in a bit.)
Online Gaming/Streaming
Streamer: 잠시 물 좀 마시고 올게요. (I'll go drink some water.)
Viewer: 네, 잠시 후에 봐요! (Okay, see you in a bit!)
Classroom Break
Student: 선생님, 질문이 있는데 쉬는 시간에 갈게요. (Teacher, I have a question, I'll come during the break.)
Teacher: 그래요, 잠시 후에 봐요. (Okay, see you in a bit.)
At a Restaurant
Friend A: 먼저 들어가서 주문하고 있어. (Go in first and order.)
Friend B: 알았어. 잠시 후에 봐요. (Got it. See you in a bit.)
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'Jam-si' as a 'Jam Session'. You're just taking a break from the music, but you'll be back for the next song 'Hu-e' (After)!
Association visuelle
Imagine a hourglass (⏳) where only a tiny bit of sand has fallen. You are standing on one side, and your friend is on the other, waving 'See you soon!'
Rhyme
Jam-si hu-e, see you at the cafe!
Story
You are at a busy Korean market. You need to find a specific spice. You tell your guide, 'I'll be right back!' You use 'Jam-si hu-e bwa-yo' to make sure they don't leave without you. They nod, knowing you'll be back in a flash.
In Other Languages
Similar to the English 'See you in a bit' or the Japanese 'Ato-de ne'. It bridges the gap between a full goodbye and a continuous presence.
Word Web
Défi
Try saying this to a colleague or language partner today when you end a call or leave a room for a break. Notice if they use '이따 봐' in return!
Review this phrase 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days after learning to cement the 'Time + 후에' grammar pattern.
Prononciation
The 'j' is soft, like in 'jeep'.
The 'h' is clearly voiced, followed by a smooth 'u-e' transition.
The 'bw' sound is a quick glide from 'b' to 'w'.
Spectre de formalité
잠시 후에 뵙겠습니다. (General meeting)
잠시 후에 봐요. (General meeting)
잠시 후에 봐. (General meeting)
이따 봐! (General meeting)
The phrase is a combination of the Sino-Korean noun 'Jam-si' ({暫時|잠시}), the temporal noun 'Hu' ({後|후}), and the native Korean verb 'Boda' (보다).
Le savais-tu ?
The character 暫 (Jam) in 'Jam-si' contains the radical for 'sun/day' (日), implying that the time is just a small portion of the day.
Notes culturelles
The 'Pali-pali' culture means that '잠시 후에' often literally means 'very soon'. If you are late after saying this, it can be seen as disrespectful of the other person's time.
“If you say '잠시 후에 봐요' and arrive 30 minutes late, you should apologize specifically for the delay.”
In Korean offices, using the formal '잠시 후에 뵙겠습니다' when stepping out for a smoke or coffee break shows that you are still 'on the clock' mentally and respect the hierarchy.
“부장님, 잠시 후에 뵙겠습니다. (Manager, I'll see you in a bit.)”
On KakaoTalk, Koreans often use the 'running' emoji (🏃♂️) alongside this phrase to show they are in a hurry to get back to the conversation.
“잠시 후에 봐요 🏃♂️💨”
Saying 'See you soon' is a way to avoid 'abruptness'. Korean social interaction prefers smooth transitions over sharp endings.
“Even if you are busy, saying this phrase softens the exit.”
Amorces de conversation
친구와 카페에서 공부하다가 편의점에 가고 싶을 때 뭐라고 할까요?
전화로 친구에게 '나 다 왔어'라고 말한 뒤 전화를 끊을 때 어떻게 말해요?
회사에서 점심을 먹으러 나갈 때 동료에게 할 수 있는 말은?
Erreurs courantes
내일 잠시 후에 봐요.
내일 봐요.
L1 Interference
잠시 뒤에 봐요.
잠시 후에 봐요.
L1 Interference
잠시 후에 보세요.
잠시 후에 봐요.
L1 Interference
잠시 후에 안녕.
잠시 후에 봐요.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
See you in a bit / See you soon
English 'See you soon' can be used for next week; Korean '잠시 후에' cannot.
後でね (Ato de ne)
Japanese often omits the verb 'to see' (miru), whereas Korean usually includes 'bwayo'.
Nos vemos en un rato
Spanish is more likely to use 'Hasta ahora' for very immediate returns.
À tout à l'heure
The French phrase is an adverbial expression, while the Korean one is a full sentence.
Bis gleich
German has 'Bis später' for longer gaps in the same day, whereas Korean uses '나중에' or '이따가'.
أراك بعد قليل (Araka ba'da qalil)
Arabic changes the verb based on the gender of the person you are seeing.
一会儿见 (Yīhuǐ'er jiàn)
Chinese puts the time before the verb without a particle like '에'.
Até logo
Portuguese 'Até logo' can sometimes feel slightly more formal than '잠시 후에 봐요'.
Spotted in the Real World
“잠시 후에 봐요.”
When Se-ri is about to go somewhere briefly and promises to return to Jeong-hyeok.
“이따 봐요”
The song uses 'itta bwayo' (a variation) to express the excitement of meeting fans soon.
“잠시 후에 뵙겠습니다.”
When the driver drops off the employer and expects to pick them up shortly.
Facile à confondre
Learners use '나중에' for 'in a bit'.
Use '잠시 후에' for minutes/hours, and '나중에' for days/weeks or indefinite times.
Both involve 'a short time'.
'잠깐만요' means 'Wait a second', while '잠시 후에 봐요' is a parting greeting.
Questions fréquentes (10)
Yes, but '잠시 후에 뵙겠습니다' is safer and more professional.
usage contexts'잠시' is slightly more formal/Sino-Korean, while '잠깐' is more native/casual. Both work in this phrase.
basic understandingIn spoken Korean, '에' is sometimes dropped ('잠시 후 봐요'), but for learners, keeping it is better.
grammar mechanics'봐요' is the standard. '봬요' is a contraction of '뵙다' and is used in more formal contexts.
grammar mechanicsYes, it's understandable, but '후에' is much more common for greetings.
comparisonsUsually anywhere from 5 minutes to 3 hours. Anything longer, use '나중에'.
practical tipsYes, very often! You can even just write '잠시후봐요'.
practical tipsThen don't use this phrase! It's a promise to return.
common mistakesOnly if you are meeting them later that same day. Otherwise, use '감사합니다'.
usage contexts'이따 봐' is the most common casual/slang-adjacent version.
cultural usage
