Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| bai | [ʔɓaːj˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɓaːj˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
| bái bai | |
| chào nha |
The term bai is a phonetic transcription of the English word "bye" used in speech and texting. You may also see the English loanword "Bye" itself used by younger generations for informal farewells.
Which one should you use?
bai and bái bai are both derived from English. You might also hear Thôi mình đi when you specifically want to communicate "Okay, I'm leaving."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
bái bai is an English loanword used in a very casual, often cute or playful manner. chào nha is a friendly, colloquial way to say goodbye to peers or people younger than you. For a more complete or standard farewell, you can use Xin chào và hẹn gặp lại to mean "Goodbye and see you again."
How does it change in a sentence?
The word nha is a sentence-final particle often added to words like bai or chào to make the departure sound warmer and less abrupt.
When do people say it?
Younger Vietnamese generations frequently use English loanwords for informal farewells. When saying goodbye to friends, you might use the common expression Chào nhé.
Did you know?
- Although bái bai sounds like the English 'bye-bye', the word bái is actually a Sino-Vietnamese word meaning 'to bow' or 'to worship'.
- Using bái bai is often perceived as 'cute' or 'childlike' rather than just casual, making it a popular choice for couples or when speaking to children.
Examples in context
- Bai nha!Bye!This sentence shows how to use bai in a friendly way.Tatoeba #11534983 by OneJanuary, translation #647456 by Hans07
- Bai nhé, mai gặp lại.Bye, see you tomorrow.
Example conversation
Two friends are leaving a cafe after studying.
- MaiNam ơi, mình về đây. Bai nhé!Nam, I'm heading home. Bye!
- NamOk, bai nhé Mai.Ok, bye Mai.
- MaiVề cẩn thận nhé.Get home safely.
- NamCảm ơn bạn, bai!Thanks, bye!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bye” translations and entries bai, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bai, bái, chào, nha, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
