다음에 봐요
See You Next Time
On the surface, 다음에 봐요 is a simple farewell phrase. But here’s the thing — it carries a lot more warmth than a flat “goodbye” or “bye!” The phrase essentially says “let’s see each other again,” which implies connection, affection, and the genuine hope that this isn’t the last time you’ll meet.
In Korean culture, goodbyes matter. Saying 다음에 봐요 is a way of keeping the relationship door wide open. It’s the kind of thing you say to a friend after dinner, a colleague after a meeting, or even a friendly shopkeeper you really liked. It has a natural, unhurried feeling to it — not rushed, not cold, but genuinely warm.
Think of it as a Korean version of “until next time!” It’s not as final as 안녕히 가세요 (which is more formal, meaning “go well/goodbye”) — instead, it’s softer, more casual, and implies you’re already looking forward to hanging out again. That forward-looking energy is what makes it so nice to use and hear.
Let’s pull this phrase apart piece by piece so you really understand how it works:
(noun)
“at / on”
from 보다
📌 에 (e) — This is a time/location particle. When attached to a time noun like 다음, it means “at” or “on” — so 다음에 = “at next time” = “next time.”
📌 봐요 (bwayo) — This is the polite present/future form of 보다 (boda), meaning “to see” or “to look.” Korean often uses the present tense for future intentions, so 봐요 can mean both “I see” and “I’ll see.” Here it’s used like “see (you)!”
💡 Subject dropped! — Korean routinely drops pronouns when they’re obvious from context. The full version might be “우리 다음에 봐요” (We’ll see each other next time) but the “우리” is almost always omitted.
This phrase is more versatile than you might think! Here are four key contexts where 다음에 봐요 fits perfectly:
“Today was so fun! See you next time!”
“Let’s eat together again sometime. See you!”
“The meeting ended well. See you next time!”
“It was delicious! I’ll come again. See you!”
“Today’s chat was fun! See you next time~ 😊”
Korean pronunciation can be tricky for English speakers. Here’s how to nail 다음에 봐요:
- 다음 (da-eum): The first syllable 다 is like the “da” in “dark” but softer, without the strong English puff of air. The second syllable 음 rhymes with “um” — as in you’re thinking out loud. Together: da-eum.
- 에 (e): Sounds like the “e” in “bed” or “net.” Short, clear, simple.
- 봐요 (bwa-yo): This is where beginners stumble. The ㅂ here is soft (not a strong English “b”). It’s almost like a gentle “bwa” — similar to the “bua” in “buah.” Then add a clean “yo.” So: bwa-yo.
- Linking 다음에: In natural speech, 다음에 flows together — it sounds like “da-eu-me” not “da-eum / e” (don’t pause between them). The final consonant ㅁ of 다음 links to the vowel ㅔ of 에.
- 봐 ≠ 봐요: Don’t forget the 요! Without it, you sound rude/too casual. 봐요 = polite; just 봐 = talking to a close friend or someone younger.
- Stress: Korean doesn’t have the same stress patterns as English. Keep each syllable roughly equal in length and weight. Don’t stress any single syllable heavily.
- ㄷ sound: The ㄷ in 다 is not a heavy “d” sound. It’s softer — somewhere between “d” and “t.” Think of it as a soft tap.
Here’s a natural, realistic conversation where 다음에 봐요 appears in context. Imagine two friends saying goodbye after coffee:
📝 Notice: B added 잘 들어가요 (Jal deureogayo = “Go in safely/Get home safe”) — a super common pairing with 다음에 봐요 when you’re parting outdoors!
Learners often make a few predictable mistakes with this phrase. Here’s what to watch out for:
✓ Right 다음에 봐요
✓ Right 다음에 봐요 / 다음에 뵈요 / 다음에 뵙겠습니다
✓ Right 다음에 봐요
✓ Right 다음에 봐요
Here’s a handy table showing all the different ways to say “see you next time” depending on the situation, your relationship with the person, and how formal you need to be. The verb 보다 (to see) changes form, and sometimes the more respectful 뵈다 (humble form of 보다) is used:
| Form / Register | Korean | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casual / Informal (반말) | 다음에 봐 | Daeume bwa | See you next time (close friends) |
| Polite / Standard (해요체) | 다음에 봐요 | Daeume bwayo | See you next time (everyday polite) |
| Polite + Cute Variation | 다음에 봐요~ 😊 | Daeume bwayo~ | See you next time~ (with warmth) |
| Respectful (humble verb) | 다음에 뵈요 | Daeume bwoeyo | See you next time (respectful) |
| Formal / Very Polite (합쇼체) | 다음에 뵙겠습니다 | Daeume boepgesseumnida | I look forward to seeing you next time (formal) |
| With specific time (next week) | 다음 주에 봐요 | Daeum jue bwayo | See you next week |
| With specific time (next month) | 다음 달에 봐요 | Daeum dare bwayo | See you next month |
| Promise form | 다음에 꼭 봐요 | Daeume kkok bwayo | We’ll definitely see each other next time |
| Also / Again variant | 다음에 또 봐요 | Daeume tto bwayo | See you again next time (slightly stronger) |
💡 Tip: 다음에 또 봐요 (Daeume tto bwayo) is a really popular variation! The word 또 (tto) means “again,” adding a little extra enthusiasm — like saying “See you again next time!” instead of just “See you next time.” Very natural and very common in everyday speech!
Let’s put this phrase into real-life sentences so you can see exactly how and when it’s used:
🇰🇷 Korean goodbye culture: Koreans often say multiple farewells before actually leaving. It’s totally normal to say 다음에 봐요 and then continue chatting for another 10–15 minutes at the door! This is sometimes jokingly called the “Korean door goodbye.” Don’t be surprised — it’s a sign of how much they enjoyed your company.
🎵 Add 또 for extra warmth: 다음에 또 봐요 (Daeume tto bwayo) is possibly even more common than the base phrase. That little 또 (“again”) adds a layer of genuine eagerness — you’re not just saying “see you,” you’re saying “I really want to see you again!” Use it freely.
📱 In texts and online: Koreans often write 다음에 봐요~ with a wavy tilde (~) at the end. That little ~ softens the tone and makes it feel more friendly and light. It’s the text-message version of a warm smile.
🤝 Pairing phrases: You’ll often hear 다음에 봐요 paired with 잘 가요 (Jal gayo — “go well”), 잘 들어가요 (Jal deureogayo — “get home safe”), or 연락해요 (Yeonrakaeyo — “stay in touch”). These combinations make your goodbye feel complete and caring.
📚 다음에 봐요 — Key Takeaways
- 다음에 봐요 (Daeume bwayo) means “See you next time” — a warm, polite farewell implying you expect and look forward to meeting again.
- It’s built from 다음 (next) + 에 (time particle) + 봐요 (see, polite form of 보다) — grammatically straightforward once you know the parts.
- For casual speech with close friends, drop 요 → 다음에 봐. For respectful situations (teacher, senior), use 다음에 뵈요 or 다음에 뵙겠습니다.
- Add 또 (tto) → 다음에 또 봐요 for extra warmth (“See you again next time!”). Add 꼭 (kkok) to make it a promise (“We’ll definitely see each other!”).
- Pair it with 잘 들어가요 (get home safe) or 연락해요 (stay in touch) for a complete, caring Korean goodbye.