See you later in Japanese is またね (mata ne) or じゃあ、また (jā, mata) between friends. If you will meet again today, say また後で (mata ato de), or politely また後ほど (mata nochihodo). Name the day to be precise: また明日 (mata ashita), see you tomorrow. また今度 (mata kondo), "next time", can be a polite brush-off.
- Casual
- またね (mata ne)
- Later today
- また後で (mata ato de)
- Later today, polite
- また後ほど (mata nochihodo)
- Tomorrow
- また明日 (mata ashita)
- Level
- A1
Which see you later matches when you'll meet?
The key word is また (mata), "again". What follows it says when: later today, tomorrow, next week or some time. Choosing the wrong one confuses people, because また後で promises another meeting the same day.
| Japanese | Romaji | Next meeting | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| また後で | mata ato de | Later today | Casual to neutral |
| また後ほど | mata nochihodo | Later today | Polite, at work |
| また明日 | mata ashita | Tomorrow | Any |
| また来週 | mata raishū | Next week | Any |
| また今度 | mata kondo | Some other time | Casual; can mean "maybe not" |
| またね | mata ne | Not fixed | Friends |
| ではまた | de wa mata | Not fixed | Polite: speech, emails |
How do you arrange the next meeting?
To pin down a day or time, add it after また with に: また金曜日に (mata kin'yōbi ni), see you on Friday. To suggest one, use the ましょう form, "let's".
じゃあ、また金曜日に。
Jā, mata kin'yōbi ni.
See you on Friday, then.
また三時に。
Mata sanji ni.
See you at three.
駅で会いましょう。
Eki de aimashō.
Let's meet at the station.
後でLINEするね。
Ato de rain suru ne.
I'll message you later.
LINE is the messaging app most people in Japan use.
Does mata kondo really mean next time?
Sometimes. また今度 is also how people turn down an invitation without saying no. If a friend answers your suggestion with また今度ね and offers no date, they may not be keen. A real plan usually comes with a day attached.
また今度ゆっくり話そう。
Mata kondo yukkuri hanasō.
Let's have a proper chat next time.
じゃあ、また連絡するね。
Jā, mata renraku suru ne.
I'll be in touch, then.
How do you say see you later at work or to a teacher?
Swap 後で for the more formal 後ほど, and finish with 失礼します when you leave the room. Students in Japan often end a weekly lesson with a renewed よろしくお願いします.
では、また後ほど。
De wa, mata nochihodo.
See you later, then.
To a colleague you'll see in a meeting this afternoon.
後ほどお電話します。
Nochihodo odenwa shimasu.
I'll call you later.
先生、また来週よろしくお願いします。
Sensei, mata raishū yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
See you next week, sensei.
Literally "please look after me again next week".
For goodbyes that are more final, and for leaving home or the office, see how to say goodbye in Japanese.
Read the first two chapters of any Japanese series free, and find out who the note was really for.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
What does mata ne mean literally?
また means "again" and ね is a friendly "right?", so roughly "again, yeah?". It assumes you'll meet again without saying when.
How do you reply to mata ne?
Say it back: またね, or うん、またね (un, mata ne). Adding a wave is normal.
What is the difference between ato de and nochihodo?
Both mean "later". 後で is everyday; 後ほど is formal and belongs at work, on the phone with customers, or in announcements.
How do you say "see you soon" in Japanese?
また近いうちに (mata chikai uchi ni), "again before long", or casually またすぐ会おうね (mata sugu aō ne), "let's meet again soon".