25 Unique Ways To Say “Goodbye” In Japanese

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

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.

About the author
Winston Simon
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

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