再見
chài-kiàn
The Hokkien way to say "bye" is 再見 (chài-kiàn).
再見 is used when parting ways with someone, implying a future meeting.
Meaning: short for goodbye (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the characters for "again" (再) and "see" (見), literally meaning "see again".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
再見 is a formal way to say goodbye, similar to the English "goodbye" rather than a casual "bye".
How do you pronounce it?
chài-kiàn
Did you know?
- When parting, Hokkien speakers often use the phrase 慢行 (mān-hêng) which literally tells the other person to 'walk slowly' to ensure their safety on the way home.
- A common way to say 'bye' in Hokkien is to talk about food, such as 食飽未 ('Have you eaten yet?'), which serves as a social lubricant for both greeting and parting.
- If you are leaving a house, instead of saying 再見, a Hokkien speaker might say 我先走 (guá sin tsáu), which means 'I am leaving first'.
Examples in context
- 再見。tsài-kiàn.Bye.
- 大家再見。tai-ka tsài-kiàn.Goodbye, everyone.
Example conversation
Two friends are finishing a lunch meeting.
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun家豪，時間不早了。Ka-hâu, sî-kan put-chá liáu.Jiahao, it is getting late.
- 家豪 Ka-hao對，我得走了。tùi, guá tit chè liáu.True, I have to go.
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun好，再見！hó, chài-kiàn!Okay, bye!
- 家豪 Ka-hao再見！chài-kiàn!Bye!
