The textbook word for goodbye in Japanese is さようなら (sayōnara), but it sounds final, as if you may not meet again soon. Day to day, friends say じゃあね (jā ne) or またね (mata ne, "see you"). At work, or when leaving a room or office, the polite choice is 失礼します (shitsurei shimasu).
- Textbook
- さようなら (sayōnara)
- Casual
- じゃあね (jā ne), またね (mata ne)
- See you tomorrow
- また明日 (mata ashita)
- Polite, leaving
- 失礼します (shitsurei shimasu)
- Level
- A1
When do Japanese people actually say sayōnara?
Less often than learners expect. Pupils still say さようなら to their teacher at the end of the school day, and it fits a farewell before a long separation. Said to a partner, though, it can sound like a break-up. Most everyday partings use other words.
| Japanese | Romaji | Register | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| じゃあね | jā ne | Casual | Friends and family, any parting |
| またね | mata ne | Casual | "See you": someone you expect to see again |
| また明日 | mata ashita | Casual to neutral | Someone you will see tomorrow |
| バイバイ | baibai | Casual, playful | Children, friends, messages |
| では、また | dewa, mata | Polite | Acquaintances and colleagues: "until next time" |
| 失礼します | shitsurei shimasu | Polite | Leaving a room, an office or a phone call |
| さようなら | sayōnara | Neutral, final | School, long farewells, formal goodbyes |
The word itself comes from 左様なら ("if that is so, then…"), an old way of wrapping up a conversation. In speech it is often shortened to さよなら (sayonara).
How do you say goodbye at work in Japanese?
Office goodbyes acknowledge the effort of the day. Leaving before others, say お先に失礼します (osaki ni shitsurei shimasu). The people staying behind answer お疲れ様でした (otsukaresama deshita), roughly "thanks for your hard work".
お先に失礼します。
Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu.
I'll be off now (before you).
Literally "excuse me for going first".
お疲れ様でした。
Otsukaresama deshita.
Thanks for today's work.
The reply from those who stay.
それでは、失礼いたします。
Sore dewa, shitsurei itashimasu.
Well then, goodbye.
Humble form, for clients and the end of business calls.
What do you say when leaving home in Japanese?
Home has its own fixed pair of phrases, said every day. The person going out says 行ってきます (ittekimasu, literally "I'll go and come back"), and whoever stays answers 行ってらっしゃい (itterasshai).
行ってきます。
Ittekimasu.
I'm off (see you later).
Said by the person leaving.
行ってらっしゃい。
Itterasshai.
Have a good day (see you later).
Said by the person staying.
ただいま。
Tadaima.
I'm home.
On coming back.
おかえり。
Okaeri.
Welcome back.
The reply; おかえりなさい is the fuller form.
How do you say see you later in Japanese?
Most casual goodbyes are built on また (mata, "again"). Add a time and you have a precise see-you.
「また 話そう。 ロボ助 より」"Mata hanasō. Robosuke yori"
From Meddlesome Robot: Welcome to the Tanaka Household, chapter 2 (A1)
また来週。
Mata raishū.
See you next week.
またあとで。
Mata ato de.
See you later (today).
じゃあ、またね！
Jā, mata ne!
Right, see you!
気をつけてね。
Ki o tsukete ne.
Take care (on the way).
Often added as someone sets off.
Start a free Japanese series at A1: two chapters, every word tappable.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
Is sayōnara rude?
No, but it can sound cold or final between people who see each other often. Friends normally say じゃあね or またね, and colleagues 失礼します or お疲れ様でした.
Is it sayonara or sayōnara?
In Hepburn romaji it is sayōnara, with a long ō, matching the hiragana さようなら. The spelling sayounara follows the kana letter by letter. Sayonara matches さよなら, the shortened spoken form, which is also correct.
What does jā ne mean?
じゃあね is a casual "well, see you". じゃあ means "well then" and ね adds a friendly tone. It is one of the most common goodbyes between friends, but too casual for a boss or a customer.
How do you end a phone call in Japanese?
Between friends, じゃあね or またね. In business calls, それでは失礼します (sore dewa shitsurei shimasu) or the humbler それでは失礼いたします.