さようなら
sayōnara[sa̠jo̞ːna̠ɾa̠]
The Japanese phrase for "goodbye forever" is さようなら (sayōnara).
さようなら is a farewell that carries a heavy nuance of a permanent or long-term parting. While it is frequently taught in textbooks as a general way to say "goodbye", in modern daily Japanese, it is often associated with a final farewell used when parting from someone with no expectation of meeting again.
Which one should you use?
For casual, everyday goodbyes with friends or family, you should use じゃあね (meaning "See ya" or "Bye") instead of さようなら to avoid sounding overly dramatic or final.
How do you pronounce it?
sayōnara
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often overuse さようなら in casual settings. Using it with friends can mistakenly imply that you never intend to see them again.
Did you know?
- The phrase さようなら actually contains a hidden logical argument. It was originally a way of saying 'If it must be so, then (I shall go)', acting as a conditional statement rather than a simple greeting.
- Because さようなら can sound so final, some Japanese people prefer to say 失礼します ('I am being rude') when leaving a workplace to avoid the dramatic weight of a permanent goodbye.
Examples in context
- もう、さようなら。mou, sayounara.Goodbye forever.
- 二度と会えないから、さようなら。nidoto aenai kara, sayounara.Since we will never meet again, goodbye.
- さようなら、愛した人よ。sayounara, aishita hito yo.Goodbye, my love.
Example conversation
Two lovers are breaking up permanently at a train station.
- 蓮 Renもう、さようなら、美咲。mou, sayounara, Misaki.Goodbye forever, Misaki.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮、本当にこれで終わりなの？Ren, hontou ni kore de owari nano?Ren, is this really the end?
- 蓮 Renさようなら。もう戻らない。sayounara. mou modoranai.Goodbye. I won't come back.
- 美咲 Misakiわかったわ。さようなら。wakatta wa. sayounara.I understand. Goodbye.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry さようなら, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries さようなら, CC BY-SA 4.0.
