拜拜
baai1 baai3
The Cantonese phrase for "bye bye" is 拜拜 (baai1 baai3).
拜拜 is a casual way to say goodbye when leaving someone.
Which one should you use?
While 拜拜 is a casual expression borrowed from English, the standard and more formal way to say "goodbye" is 再見.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
拜拜 is highly informal and is primarily used among friends, family or in casual social settings. For a more formal situation, use 再見.
How do you pronounce it?
baai1 baai3
Did you know?
- Although 拜拜 sounds like the English 'bye bye', it uses Chinese characters that literally translate to 'worship' or 'to pray'.
- In many Cantonese-speaking households, if you are leaving a person of much higher status, using 拜拜 might actually be seen as slightly impolite or too 'childish'.
- Because 拜拜 is used so frequently, some older Cantonese speakers view it as a sign of 'Westernization' and prefer the traditional 再見.
Examples in context
- 我走先喇，拜拜。ngo5 zau2 sin1 laa3, baai1 baai3.I'm leaving now, bye bye.
- 聽日見，拜拜。ting1 jat6 gin3, baai1 baai3.See you tomorrow, bye bye.
Example conversation
Chi Keung is leaving the office after a long day.
- 志強 Chi Keung曉彤，我收工喇，拜拜。hiu2 tung4, ngo5 sau1 gung1 laa3, baai1 baai3.Hiu Tung, I'm finishing work, bye bye.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung好呀，志強，拜拜！hou2 aa3, zi3 koeng4, baai1 baai3!Okay, Chi Keung, bye bye!
- 志強 Chi Keung聽日見！ting1 jat6 gin3!See you tomorrow!
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung拜拜。baai1 baai3.Bye bye.
