Key Facts
- Word: 케바케 (kebake), noun, loanword from English "case by case"
- Register: internet and youth slang; casual only
- Senses: case by case, it depends
Case by Case in Korean: What Does 케바케 Mean?
케바케 is the short answer to a question where the result changes with the situation. Ask whether a shop is good and the reply 직원에 따라 케바케예요 means it depends on the staff. It is a fixed noun used with 이다, so it takes 예요, and it can stand alone as 케바케다. The pattern is easy to extend: 사바사 means person by person and 때바때 means time by time. For a standard phrase use 경우에 따라 다르다, which means it differs depending on the case.
How Do You Pronounce 케바케?
Say ke-ba-ke in three syllables with equal weight. The vowel ㅔ is like the e in "bed". The two ㅋ sounds are aspirated, with a clear puff of air, while ㅂ is plain. There is no double consonant in the spelling, so the romanization is simply kebake. With 예요, the sound is ke-ba-ke-ye-yo.
Example Sentences with 케바케
이 가게 서비스는 직원에 따라 케바케예요.
i gage seobiseuneun jigwone ttara kebakeyeyo
The service at this shop depends on the staff.
에 따라 means "depending on". 케바케예요 takes 예요 because it ends in a vowel.
시험 난이도는 해마다 케바케예요.
siheom nanidoneun haemada kebakeyeyo
The exam difficulty varies from year to year.
해마다 means "every year". The sentence says the difficulty changes each year.
사람마다 다르니까 케바케죠.
saramada dareunikka kebakejyo
It differs from person to person, so it depends.
다르니까 gives a reason and 죠 invites agreement. The speaker invites the listener to agree.
Common Phrases and Collocations
The pattern appears in short, repeatable phrases.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 완전 케바케 | totally case by case |
| 케바케다 | it depends |
| 케바케인 것 같아요 | I think it varies from case to case |
The Mistake to Avoid
The usual slip is treating the noun as a verb.
Wrong: ✗ 직원에 따라 케바케해요
Correct: ✓ 직원에 따라 케바케예요
케바케 is a fixed noun, so it takes the copula: 케바케예요, or 케바케죠 when you invite agreement. Write it in Hangul, not as English letters.
케바케 Compared with Similar Words
This family of abbreviations shares one pattern.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 사바사 | person by person (slang) | Same pattern: 사람 by 사람. |
| 때바때 | time by time (slang) | Depends on the occasion. |
| 경우에 따라 다르다 | it depends on the case | Standard phrase for the same idea. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
케바케 is an abbreviation of the English "case by case", pronounced 케이스 바이 케이스 in Korean, keeping the first sound of each part. Spelling variants such as 캐바캐 also circulate.
Comparing Experiences with a Delivery Service
Two friends discuss whether parcels from a shop arrive quickly. They speak politely to each other, but the shortened word keeps the exchange casual.
Mina
이 가게 배송 빨라요?
I gage baesong ppallayo?
Is this shop quick with deliveries?
Jisu
케바케예요. 저는 빨리 받았어요.
Kebakeyeyo. Jeoneun ppalli badasseoyo.
It depends. Mine arrived quickly.
Mina
동생은 일주일 기다렸대요.
Dongsaengeun iljuil gidaryeotdaeyo.
My younger sibling said they waited a week.
Jisu
그럼 주문마다 다른가 봐요.
Geureom jumunmada dareunga bwayo.
Then it seems to vary from order to order.
The two experiences explain the answer 케바케예요. It means the outcome varies, not that the speaker has no information. 주문마다 means “for each order”, identifying the cases being compared. A useful reply can follow 케바케 with a personal example, as Jisu does.
What Do Common Replies with 케바케 Imply?
완전 케바케 literally combines “completely” with “case by case”. In conversation, it means the experience really varies. 완전 strengthens the claim about variation; it does not mean that all cases turn out badly. A shop can receive this description when some customers have a smooth experience and others do not.
케바케죠 adds 죠, often inviting agreement or treating the point as shared knowledge. It can sound like “it depends, of course” in the right context. The ending alone does not tell you whether the speaker is being friendly or dismissive. A following explanation helps the listener understand which differences matter.
케바케인 것 같아요 means “I think it varies from case to case”. 것 같아요 makes the claim more tentative. 케바케인 links the noun to that expression. You still keep 케바케 as a noun; there is no need to build a new verb with 하다.
Where Does Casual Slang Fit, Even with 요?
케바케 fits messages between friends, informal online reviews and conversations comparing personal experiences. A question about a class, a shop or a delivery service gives the listener a set of cases to imagine. The short answer is useful when a simple “yes” or “no” would hide the variation.
Adding 예요 makes the sentence polite to the listener. It does not turn the slang into formal vocabulary. A customer-service notice, academic paragraph or formal report is usually clearer with 경우에 따라 다릅니다, “it differs depending on the case”. A polite everyday alternative is 경우에 따라 달라요.
The tone also matters when someone needs a concrete answer. If a colleague asks about a refund, 케바케 alone gives no rule or next step. Explaining what changes between cases is more helpful. The word expresses variation; it does not explain its cause, set a condition or make a promise.
How Is “It Depends” Different from “I Don't Know”?
케바케 says different situations can have different outcomes. 몰라요 means “I do not know”. A person might know several examples and confidently say 케바케, as in the delivery dialogue. Another person may know nothing about the shop and say 몰라요. The two replies communicate different information.
사바사 narrows the variation to people. The broader 케바케 can cover people too, but it can also concern an order, location or occasion. Use the surrounding noun or explanation to make the intended comparison clear rather than leaving the listener to guess what each “case” is.
| Related word | Meaning | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 경우 | case; circumstance | The standard noun in 경우에 따라 다르다. |
| 상황 | situation | Helps explain the circumstances that vary. |
| 사바사 | depends on the person | Narrows the comparison to different people. |
| 다르다 | to be different | Carries the meaning in a standard alternative. |
Compare the abbreviations in the Korean Gen Z slang lesson and keep the full standard expression ready for formal situations.
Quick Self-Test
- Does 케바케 mean all the cases are bad?
- Does adding 예요 make 케바케 suitable for every formal report?
- Which says the speaker lacks information: 케바케 or 몰라요?
Show answers
- No. It says outcomes vary.
- No. Politeness and slang register are separate choices.
- 몰라요. 케바케 describes variation between cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is case by case in Korean?
It is 케바케 (kebake), slang for "it depends".
How do you romanize 케바케?
The Revised Romanization is kebake, because ㅋ is written k and there is no double consonant.
What are 사바사 and 때바때?
사바사 means person by person and 때바때 time by time.
What is the standard phrase?
Say 경우에 따라 다르다.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Korean Gen Z slang places 케바케 with other slang young Koreans use.
- Index: browse Korean words A to Z for more words like case by case.
- Practice: add 케바케 to your vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Compare: 경우에 따라 다르다 is the standard phrase.