さようなら
sayōnara[sa̠jo̞ːna̠ɾa̠]
さようなら (sayōnara) is the Japanese way to say a formal goodbye.
さようなら is a polite way to say goodbye when you do not expect to see the person again soon. It is often used when parting with someone you may not see for a long time.
Which one should you use?
In casual daily settings, people prefer using じゃあ or また instead of さようなら, which can sound overly dramatic or cold in a routine context. When leaving a formal event, meeting or someone's house, you might instead use 失礼します, which literally translates to "I'm being rude." If you are leaving a situation before others, the phrase お先に失礼します is used.
How do you pronounce it?
sayōnara
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often overuse さようなら in casual situations. Doing so can inadvertently signal to a Japanese speaker that you do not intend to see them again for a long time.
Did you know?
- The phrase さようなら actually originated as a logical conjunction meaning 'if that is the case'. It was a way of saying 'if things are as you say, then [we must part]'.
- In Japanese schools, さようなら is the standard way for students to address their teachers at the end of the day. In this specific setting, it does not carry the cold or final connotation it has in adult social life.
- If you use さようなら in a workplace, you might accidentally signal that you are quitting your job or leaving the company forever. To avoid this misunderstanding, colleagues use more specific phrases about leaving before others.
Examples in context
- さようなら。Sayonara.Goodbye.
- 先生、さようなら。Sensei, sayonara.Goodbye, teacher.
- 最後に、さようならと言いましょう。Saigo ni, sayonara to iimashou.Finally, let's say goodbye.
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are parting ways after a formal ceremony.
- 健太 Kenta美咲さん、さようなら。Misaki-san, sayonara.Goodbye, Misaki.
- 美咲 Misaki健太さんも、さようなら。Kenta-san mo, sayonara.Goodbye to you too, Kenta.
- 健太 Kentaまたいつか、お会いしましょう。Mata itsuka, oai shimashou.Let's meet again someday.
- 美咲 Misakiはい、さようなら。Hai, sayonara.Yes, goodbye.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry さようなら, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries さようなら, CC BY-SA 4.0.
