Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| またね | mata ne | [ma̠ta̠ ne̞] (narrow) |
| さようなら | sayounara | [sa̠jo̞ːna̠ɾa̠] (narrow) |
| じゃ | ja | [d͡ʑa̠] (narrow) |
| じゃ、また | ja, mata | |
| バイバイ | baibai | [ba̠iba̠i] (narrow) |
These expressions are used when parting ways. Some forms like じゃ act as a quick, clipped way to say "well then" or "bye" when leaving a group of friends.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase またね literally means "See you again, okay?", consisting of mata (again) and the particle ne, which is used to soften the tone or seek agreement.
Which one should you use?
またね and じゃあね are natural, casual ways to say "see you later" among friends. In contrast, さようなら is the standard dictionary translation for "goodbye", but it often carries a sense of finality or a long-term parting. じゃ、また is a natural-sounding casual phrase that combines じゃ (well then) with また (again) to mean "well, see you again".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For very casual settings, such as between children or very close friends, you can use the English-derived loanword バイバイ. In more formal or courteous settings, you might use ごきげんよう to bid farewell politely or 失礼します, which translates to "I'm sorry for leaving" and is used when departing from a formal event or gathering. じゃ is a colloquial, clipped form used in casual conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase じゃ、また creates a smooth conversational flow by combining the conversational じゃ with また.
How do you pronounce it?
mata ne
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often over-use さようなら in daily life. However, using it with friends or colleagues can sound overly formal or even imply that you do not intend to see them again soon.
When do people say it?
It is common to bow as a sign of respect when saying goodbye in Japan.
Did you know?
- In many Japanese schools, students do not say 'bye' to their teachers but instead use a phrase that acknowledges the teacher's hard work.
- The formal さようなら actually began as a conditional phrase meaning 'if it is that way'.
- Using the loanword バイバイ is often seen as 'kawaii' or child-like, making it more common among women and children than among adult men.
Examples in context
- さようなら。Good-bye!This example shows the use of さようなら.Tatoeba #640569 by arihato, translation #64336 by Zifre
- バイバイ。また遊ぼうね！Bye! Let's do this again!This example demonstrates a casual use of バイバイ.Tatoeba #2980845 by tommy_san, translation #2982209 by Chromatic
- ドイツ語で「さようなら」を何と言いますか。How do you say "good bye" in German?This example uses さようなら to ask how to say the word in another language.Tatoeba #8533953 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #464137 by maolek
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are leaving a park after hanging out.
- 陽葵 Himari今日は楽しかったね！Kyō wa tanoshikatta ne!Today was fun!
- 陽太 Yotaうん、またね！Un, mata ne!Yeah, bye!
- 陽葵 Himariまた明日学校で。Mata ashita gakkō de.See you at school tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bye” translations and entries またね, さようなら, じゃ, バイバイ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries さようなら, じゃ, またね, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
