Dictionary — Entry No. 0617
헤어져
heeojyeo · verb
헤어져
heeojyeo
[heh-OH-jyuh]
verbbeginner
Meaning
헤어져 is the casual present-tense conjugation of 헤어지다 (heeojida), meaning ‘to break up’ or ‘to part ways romantically.’ Depending on context and tone, it can mean ‘let’s break up,’ ‘we broke up,’ or ‘we are breaking up.’ It is one of the most emotionally charged words in Korean romantic vocabulary, carrying the full weight of a relationship ending.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
IU’s Ending Scene (이런 엔딩) is one of Korea’s most beloved breakup ballads, crystallizing the quiet devastation of a 헤어지다 moment that arrives not with a fight but with resignation. In Something in the Rain (밥 잘 사주는 예쁜 누나), the climactic breakup scene left viewers heartbroken precisely because 헤어져 was spoken so calmly after such a warm love story. BLACKPINK’s Don’t Know What to Do captures the numb aftermath — the hollow confusion that follows after 헤어져 has already been said.
Example Sentences
우리 헤어져.
Uri heeojyeo.
Let’s break up. (direct declaration — among the most feared sentences in all of Korean)
결국 헤어졌어.
Gyeolguk heeojyeosseo.
We eventually broke up. (past tense — looking back on a relationship’s end)
헤어지고 싶지 않아.
Heeojigo sipji anha.
I don’t want to break up. (pleading — the opposite impulse, just as common in K-Drama)
⚠️ Don’t use heeojyeo when…
헤어지다 specifically means romantic breakup — for general goodbyes or parting from friends, use 잘 가 (jal ga) or 안녕 (annyeong) instead. Also, 헤어지다 has nothing to do with hair — the hair-related word is 머리 (meori), and ‘parting hair’ is an entirely different expression.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Something in the Rain (밥 잘 사주는 예쁜 누나) — the calm, devastating breakup scene that redefined how K-Drama fans experience 헤어져
- K-Pop: IU — Ending Scene (이런 엔딩)
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.