Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| どうぞご無事で | dōzo gobuji de |
| 道中ご無事で | dōchū gobuji de |
| よい旅を | yoi tabi o |
These phrases are used to wish someone a good or safe journey. Depending on the form you choose, your focus may shift from wishing someone a pleasant experience to expressing a heartfelt wish for their safety.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase どうぞご無事で literally translates to 'please be safe' or 'please be without incident'. In the form 道中ご無事で, the part 道中 (dōchū) specifically refers to 'during the journey' or 'on the road'.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ primarily in their focus and tone. どうぞご無事で expresses a wish for safety, while よい旅を is a more standard way to say 'have a good trip', focusing on the enjoyment of the journey. 道中ご無事で specifically emphasizes being safe during the actual travel period.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the expression 道中ご無事で, the term 道中 (dōchū) functions to specify the timeframe of 'during the journey'.
How do you pronounce it?
dōzo gobuji de
Did you know?
- The word 無事 (buji) used in どうぞご無事で can also be used as a response to 'How was your trip?', meaning 'It was uneventful' or 'Nothing went wrong'.
- The term 道中 (dōchū) is deeply rooted in the history of the Edo period, when travel was highly regulated and quite dangerous.
- A common custom in Japan when seeing someone off is to continue waving until their vehicle has completely disappeared from view.
Examples in context
- 道中、どうぞご無事で。Dōchū, dōzo go-buji de.Please be safe during your travels.
Example conversation
A man is leaving for a long business trip at the airport.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太さん、お仕事頑張ってくださいね。Yōta-san, oshigoto ganbatte kudasai ne.Good luck with your work, Yota.
- 陽太 Yotaありがとう、陽葵さん。Arigatō, Himari-san.Thank you, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himariどうぞご無事で。Dōzo go-buji de.Please be safe on your journey.
- 陽太 Yota行ってきます。Ittekimasu.I'm off.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bon voyage” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
