The Japanese language is rich in ways to say ‘goodbye,’ each showing different levels of closeness and respect. Exploring these phrases helps you understand and speak the language better. It also shows you how Japanese people interact. Each goodbye fits a different setting and shows respect.
25 Unique Ways to Say “Goodbye” in Japanese
| Japanese Phrase | Pronunciation | Meaning/Usage |
| さようなら | Sayōnara | Formal goodbye |
| じゃあね | Jā ne | Informal, see you later |
| またね | Mata ne | See you again |
| さよなら | Sayo nara | Goodbye |
| じゃあまた | Jā mata | Well then, see you again |
| また明日 | Mata ashita | See you tomorrow |
| おやすみなさい | Oyasuminasai | Good night |
| 行ってきます | Ittekimasu | I’m leaving (when leaving home) |
| 行ってらっしゃい | Itterasshai | Please go and come back (response to above) |
| 失礼します | Shitsurei shimasu | Excuse me (formal, when leaving) |
| バイバイ | Baibai | Bye-bye (casual) |
| お元気で | Ogenki de | Take care |
| お疲れ様でした | Otsukaresama deshita | Thank you for your hard work (when leaving) |
| 気をつけて | Ki o tsukete | Take care |
| また会いましょう | Mata aimashou | Let’s meet again |
| お世話になりました | Osewa ni narimashita | Thank you for everything |
| さよなら、また会う日まで | Sayonara, mata au hi made | Goodbye until we meet again |
| 元気でね | Genki de ne | Stay well |
| しばらくね | Shibaraku ne | See you in a while |
| じゃね | Ja ne | See you |
| 良い旅を | Yoi tabi o | Have a good trip |
| また今度 | Mata kondo | See you next time |
| では、また | Dewa, mata | Well then, see you |
| お大事に | Odaiji ni | Take care (when someone is ill) |
| ごきげんよう | Gokigen yō | Farewell (very formal) |
Formal Goodbyes
| Japanese Phrase | Pronunciation | Meaning/Usage |
| さようなら | Sayōnara | Formal goodbye |
| 失礼します | Shitsurei shimasu | Excuse me (formal, when leaving) |
| お世話になりました | Osewa ni narimashita | Thank you for everything |
| お疲れ様でした | Otsukaresama deshita | Thank you for your hard work (when leaving) |
| ごきげんよう | Gokigen yō | Farewell (very formal) |
| お元気で | Ogenki de | Take care |
| さよなら、また会う日まで | Sayonara, mata au hi made | Goodbye until we meet again |
| 良い旅を | Yoi tabi o | Have a good trip |
| また会いましょう | Mata aimashou | Let’s meet again |
| お大事に | Odaiji ni | Take care (when someone is ill) |
Casual Goodbyes
| Japanese Phrase | Pronunciation | Meaning/Usage |
| バイバイ | Baibai | Bye-bye (casual) |
| またね | Mata ne | See you again |
| じゃあね | Jā ne | See you later |
| また明日 | Mata ashita | See you tomorrow |
| じゃあまた | Jā mata | Well then, see you again |
| じゃね | Ja ne | See you |
| 行ってきます | Ittekimasu | I’m leaving (when leaving home) |
| 行ってらっしゃい | Itterasshai | Please go and come back (response to above) |
| 元気でね | Genki de ne | Stay well |
| また今度 | Mata kondo | See you next time |
Conclusion
In short, the many ways to say ‘goodbye’ in Japanese show how complex the culture is and how much it cares about the social setting. Learning these phrases is vital to improving communication and understanding the culture. When learners use these different expressions, they handle social situations better. It shows how important it is to understand the cultural subtleties when learning a language.
Winston Simon, the founder of the Translation Blog, holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) from Auburn University. Fluent in multiple languages, including Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French, German, and Japanese, Winston has had a lifelong passion for learning languages from around the globe