26 Ways to Say Goodbye in Japanese (Casual and Formal) | AlexRockinJapanese (2023)

I made the big mistake onceto say goodbyefor myJapanesefriend with the word "Sayonara' and seriously hurt him without realizing it. There are as many options as you cansay goodbye in japaneseand chose the least appropriate for casual situations. Here's why.

Sayonara is the best known but least used way of saying goodbye in Japanese as it means "goodbye". Bai bai, Jaa ne, Mata ne and Mata ashita See you tomorrow) are the phrases most often used in casual situations after work, best to say Otsukaresama desu (Good job).

Just like thatjapanese greeting"Konnichiwa", "Sayonarais really one ofless used phrasesin daily life. Do you want to know how tosay goodbye casuallyfor your friends and of course for your employees? find below26 Ways to Say Goodbye in Japaneseincluding the phraseused by samurai.

1. Sayonara – goodbye, goodbye (rarely used)

Sayonara, also commonly written asSayunara(さようなら), is well known as the Japanese equivalent of the word After Review. Allerdings is just thatless usefulIt is one ofthe least common way to say goodbyeIn japanese.

While it translates as: "adoption"It's actually avery formal and respectfulPhrase that usually implies that you won't see each other for a long time and often even never again. To useSayonaraSaying goodbye really feels like "the end" and therefore a better translation is the word "to the next", In my opinion.

EUonce used this phrase to say goodbyeto my Japanese roommate when he moved to another apartment in Tokyo and hegot very angryabout this. Later he wrote me a long text explaining that I really hurt him and that's howno„Sayonara”because we are friendsand he wantssee me again. I was so sorry and apologized a thousand times.

So don't make the same mistakes I andAvoid using "sayonara" as a farewell to loved ones, family and friends. Especially if you plan and hope to see them again in the near future.

I can tell you this from experience here in Japan.In everyday situations, you hardly (actually never) said goodbye. The only instances where you can find him are in Japanese dramas, anime, manga, and generally younger ones.Children or students say goodbye to their teachers(Those ones).

2. Bai Bai - Bye, see you later (casual)

This is probably the easiest and one of themost popularGoodbye in Japanese, especially between friends.Leak leak(Bye-bye) is just like English"Goodbye“. It means the same thing and is used in the same way. In Japan you will hear it everywhere as it is used in all kinds of ways.informal situations.

In the past it was and was mostly used by the younger generationespecially popular with girls. Some people may think it seemsa little childishand there's plentyfeminine touch(Those ones). But in general it can beused by men and women, old and young.

„Leak leak' is also the most commoninformal farewell by phone. My Japanese friends and even my co-workers use it all the time when we hang up. However, it's not a good idea to use it in formal phone calls with your boss or client.

3. Jaa Ne - See you later (casual and my favorite)

I am not(See you later means "Goodbye“, „be careful", or "goodbye“ in English and is anotherfrase casual popularForto say goodbyefor friends and people you know well. It's used by everyone I know, including my Japanese friend's parents and relatives.

OE(じゃあ) actually means "then" or "well", so a more literal translation would be something like "well then“, „bye then", or "until then“You may also find it written as ja ne, Jaa ne or Jaa ne.

This is just not one of thosemost used farewellphrases, but alsomy personal favoritebecause it sounds so cool!

4. Mata Ne – See you again, see you around (lässig)

They are women(またね) is the farewell I hear most from my friends when they are waitingsee me later the same day. The wordWomen(また) means "again" among other things. So if you translate the sentence into English, you will get sentences like “until later“, „we will meet again", E "Shortly“.

while you always canreply with the same parting word, my Japanese friends often respond a little differently. For example, if I say "They are women' to say goodbye, they respond with 'I am not", but if I"They are women' reply with 'I am not' or any of the casual phrases I'll present below.

5. Jaa Mata – See you soon, see you soon (casual)

This phrase is a combination of the two phrases we just learned. in Englishhey eyes(Até logo) means something like "see you soon“, „we will meet again", or "until then“. It’s usually just another casual one.”Goodbye" or "be careful", although.

You will also often hearJaa mata ne(So ​​long) which means exactly the same thing.Satzende Partikel ne(ね) just makes the phrase a little softer and maybe a little more feminine.

6. Mata Ato De – See you later, See you later (leger)

Mata ato de(So ​​Long) is another good choice if you are planning to do this.Meet your friends later in the day.Act (後) means laterand so, translated literally, the phrase means "again later." It could mean anything from "until later" For "until later" E "We'll talk later“.

Two other common variations areJaa mata ato de(So ​​long) which means "Ok, see you later" EMata ato de ne(see you later) what"until later“. or combine themYes, I'm not sure(So ​​long) to say "Ok, see you later“.

I usually addE(うん) to my answer, which is an informal way of saying "E“.

7. Mata Kondo - See you next time (semi-casual)

If you don't have any specific plans to see each other again or if you don't know when you'll see the other person again, you can use the phraseCondominium Points(again) means "until next time" or "until then“.

Guys,I don't like to use the phrase with my friends, as it is also used when declining an invitation. You can useMata kondo na(Until next time) to say "Maybe next time!“. So, in my opinion, it looks a little cold. I would use this more as a polite farewell to someone I really don't want to see again.

8. Mata Ashita – See you tomorrow (casual)

if you have concreteplan a meetingor if you know you will see your friend again tomorrow you should useMata Ashita(see you tomorrow) which means "See you tomorrow“.

Ashita(Tomorrow) is the Japanese word for "morning' and you can easily switch to similar phrases. "See you again next week" ANDMata raishuu(See you next week) and "see you next year" ANDMata Rainen(Until next year) For example: You should definitely try “Mata Rainen” before the New Year holidays.

9. Oyasumi Nasai - Good Night (Formal farewell at night)

While many other sites includeOyasumi Nasai(Good night) in your posts about Japanese greetings, I didn't mention it in my list26 Ways to Say Hello in Japanese, since it isalways used as a farewell. And theformal expressiona "wish" for someoneGoodnight" In japanese.

If you meet someone at night or later, greet them with "Konbanwa' (or one of the more casual ways of saying hello in Japanese) and use 'Oyasumi nasai' to say goodbye to them.

10. Oyasumi - Good Night (Casual Good Night)

Ocasual variantde "Oyasumi nasai"Oyasumi (Gute Nacht). I use it to say goodnight to my Japanese friend, and I also use it with my friends and each of my host families in Nagano when I visit.

11. Otsukaresama Desu (joint formal farewell after work)

Now let's see someformal sentencesYou can use it at work.Otsukaresama desu(Thanks for your hard work) orOtsukaresama deshita(thanks for your hard work) are the mostcommonly used phrasesto saygoodbye to colleagues. Especially if you leave the office before them.

Unfortunately, there is no correct translation forOtsukaresama desuin English, but it means something like "Thank you for your hard work (today)“. The phrase comes from the wordTsukaru(tired), which translates to "be or get tired“.

Deshita(which) is the past tense of copula desu (is). In other offices "Otsukaresama deshita' seems to be more popularwe always use my job„Otsukaresama desu" the farewell. Sometimes followed by a looser phrase like "Mata ne".

It can also be told to a colleague if they arehaving a hard timewith a project if theya difficult task completedAt work.

12. Otsu - Good job! Goodbye! (casual farewell after an event)

Japanese abbreviations for love. so shortherbaceous(Otsu, Otsu) is to diecasual variantfrom "Otsukaresama" and can be translated as "Thanks“, „Good job“, „adoption", or "Goodnight”(Those ones). After an event, a project or a trip with your friends, you can use the printto say thank you and goodbyesimultaneously.

After a school event, students often say this to each other. That's what the son of my (other) Japanese host family in Kagoshima said to his father, the driver, when we parked our car at our destination in Miyazaki after a journey of several hours.

13. Gokurousama Desu (Formal farewell to kohais at work)

Gokurousama desu(thanks for your hard work) andgokurousama deshita(thanks for your hard work) are another twoformal goodbyesYou can usewhen leaving your office. They are very similar to "Otsukaresama desu/deshita" and mean exactly the same thing"Thank you for your hard work (today)“.

However, you mustOnly use them with your Kohhais (Juniors) at workbut the expression is not respectful enough to address your manager or"Senpai" is the Japanese word for "senior". Therefore, when your boss says "Gokrousama desu", you should respond with the polite "Otsukaresama desu".

14. Osaki ni Shitsurei Shimasu (See you when you leave for the first time)

Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu(sorry first) is anotherpolite goodbyeor a polite apology to use with your boss and co-workers if you areleave the office early. It is often translated as the apologetic "Sorry I went first", but it can also just mean "I finished the day“.

If you compare "Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu" E "Otsukaresama desu/deshita"It's definitely the firstmore apologetic. You recognize that your colleagues are still working hard. So I suggest using it if youhave to leave much earlierthan the rest and especially if youQuit work before your boss.

However, this phrase is not used when going out to lunch or doing something. There is one more sentence that I will introduce below.

15. Osaki ni (Casual farewell when leaving first or earlier)

Osakini(first) is the more flexible and shorter version of "Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu' and it's something like 'I go first" or "I'll continue" in English. However, think of it as acasual or semi-formal„Goodbye"If you leave early.

Use the expression withColleagues who are close to youinstead of the more formal expression. You can also usesay goodbye to a group of friendsFor example, if you are the first to leave a party or are already on your way to the next store while shopping.

16. Shitsurei Shimasu (despedida respeitosa ao sair)

Together with "Otsukaresama desu" this is theformal farewellI tend to use more. Do you rememberShitsurei Shimasu(sorry) from the phrase "Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu"? if you don't go before, justLeaving a place or conversationand you meangoodbye respectfullyVerwenden Sie ``Shitsurei Shimasu“.

It means "sorry" or "Sorry for the interruption/rudeness", butworks as a farewell. For example, after a conversation with your boss or teacher, I would use this phrase when you leave the room. I also use it in place of the casual "Bai Bai" whenend a formal phone call.

the past versionShitsurei Shimashita(sorry) is also commonly used, but although you can also use "Shitsurei shimasu" when entering a room, "Shitsurei Shimashita" ANDused only when leaving.

17. Wound Dewa – Well, Talk to You Again (semi-formal)

god of the afternoon(So) is an expression that can be used in many situations and means "Well then…“. Indicates it's yousoon to go/goor shortly beforeend a conversation. If youread a blogWritten in Japanese, you usually see it at the end of the post.

The actual expression used as parting isWudes Dewa, Mata Aimashou(See you later) and translated as "So let's get back together“. However, it's too long, so everyone just uses the short "Sore dewa".

One important thing to note is that では is pronounced "dewa" but written as "deha".

18. Dewa – Well… (casual farewell to end a conversation)

Dewa(So) is the casual version of "Sore dewa" and translates to "Also…"or also"Well then…“. My favorite artist always uses this as hisFarewell at the end of your blog postsand he even misspells it as でわ (seeHere). It's beautifulcasualand maybe even feel a little rude. Personally, I don't recommend using it if you're a woman.

19. Ittekimasu & Itterasshai - Tchau (ao sair de casa)

When leaving home in the morning to go to work or study, useIttekimasu(I'm coming, I'm coming) tosay goodbye to everyone at home. In anime, you always see characters screaming "Ittekimasu~" as they put on their shoes and run to school.

Literally means "I come and go' but means 'Goodbye" or "until later" or "See you after school/work“. It can also be used if youleave the office for lunchor when you leavemeet a clientbefore heading back to the office. In this situation, you might think like this: “See you after lunch/meeting“.

The usual answer from everyone who stays at home isitterassai(Try it, try it).one more parting wordand literally means "please go and come back“. However, more appropriate translations are "please have a nice day“, „watch later", or "Be careful“.

20. Ojama Shimashita - Thanks for having me (very polite)

While the previous phrase is used when leaving the house,Ojama Shimashita(sorry to bother) is used whenleave someone else's house. In English means "thanks for the invitation" or "Thank you for inviting me“. It is avery polite farewell in japanese.

This expression is very similar to "Shitsurei shimashita" and "Shitsurei shimasu" and similarly to the present tenseOjama Shimasu(Omasumu shimasu) is used when entering someone's home and means "Sorry to disturb you".

It's a good phrase to use when you'reinvited for coffee by a friend,T-shirt, orTo have lunch. OThe first time I was with my host familyI used those two phrases, but now I always greet them with "Tadaima" and thank them with "Arigatou ne".

Oh, and don't use that sentence as a response tojapanese greetingin "Irasshaimase" shops and restaurants.

21. Okiotsukete Okaeri Kudasai – Gute Reise (formell)

Okiotsukete okaeri kudasai(Be careful when returning home) is avery formal farewellwith which you can useguests,Visitor, ECustomers. Use this phrase to wish someone a safe journey home. In English means "Have a safe journey home“, „Please watch the way home" or "I hope you have a safe trip home.“.

It can also be written as "O-ki o tsukete okaeri kudasai" E "Oki o tsukete okaeri kudasai“.

22. Kiotsukete - Take care, bon voyage (casual)

Ocasual variantof the phrase we just learned isKiotsukete(caution) orKi o tsukete. This means "watch later" or "Have a safe trip" or "Be careful on the way home' and is usually used togoodbye to friendswhen they areon the way back to your home countryat night or when they arego on vacation.

The phrase is also used to say to someone: "take care" or "be careful“. For example, if a typhoon hits Tokyo, my colleagues usually say goodbyeKiotsukete ne(Careful!) The “ne” at the end softens the sentence.

You can alsoMake expression more politeadicionando "O" e/ou "kudasai.Okiotsukete(caution) orOkiotsukete kudasai(Take care).

23. O-Genki De – All the best, stay healthy (formal)

O-genki de(Ogenki de) is anotherformal farewellYou can use it when you won't see someone for a while or when someone isgo on a long vacation. This means "all the best“, „stay healthy", or "stay healthy“.

It sounds much more formal than "kiotsukete" or "okiotsukete kudasai", so I don't usually use it with my friends or co-workers. However, I sometimes hear this said during flu season. Maybe I could use it with my friend's grandparents.

You can read more about it.what “genki” really means in japanesein my other blog post.

24. Genki De Ne – All the Best, Stay Healthy (Casual)

Genki de ne(hope you're ok) or justGenki de(Genki de) are the mostcasual versionsfrom "O-Genki's". The sentences still sound a little stiff, so I'll keep using "Kiotsukete" for people I know well.

25. Odaiji Ni - Get Well Soon (See You When Someone Is Sick)

if you know thatsomeone is sickor not feeling wellcommonly used farewellANDOdaiji ni(Take care) meaning"Get well soon“. It's also the standard farewell you'll hear from yourDoctoror hospital staff.

26. Saraba – Adios (ancient samurai farewell)

Olast goodbyeis veryold-fashionedone used by samurai in the past.Saraba(goodbye) orSaraba yes(goodbye) means "Goodbye" or "to the next“. That's itnot used on a daily basisbut you can hear it in a drama or movie about samurai. It could be used as a joke between close friends.

Aa few more goodbyesI found areto escape(Abayo), it was „goodbye“,And and(bye-bye bacteria), which should only be used by children or Anpanman fans, and other phrases likeTanoshinde ne(Have fun) which translates to "have a good time" EMata chikai uchi ni aeru to ii ne(I hope we can meet again soon), which is a formal way of saying: "I hope to see you again“.

Overview – How to Say Goodbye in Japanese

For the pronunciation of the words and phrases I recommendJapanese ammo with Misa's Youtube-Video:

Here is the overview ofall 26 ways to say goodbye in japanese. I also strongly recommend that you read my other blog post on Japanese greetings: ““.