Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| さようなら | sayōnara | [sa̠jo̞ːna̠ɾa̠] (narrow) |
| さよなら | sayonara | [sa̠jo̞na̠ɾa̠] (narrow) |
| それでは | sore de wa | [so̞ɾe̞ de̞ β̞a̠] (narrow) |
| またね | mata ne | [ma̠ta̠ ne̞] (narrow) |
| じゃ、また | ja, mata | |
| バイバイ | baibai | [ba̠iba̠i] (narrow) |
The Japanese language offers various ways to express farewell depending on the setting and the level of finality intended. While さようなら is the standard translation for goodbye, it often conveys a sense of finality or a long-term parting. For more casual or frequent departures, phrases like またね (see you later/soon) or じゃ、また (see you) are common. In specific social contexts, such as leaving a workplace, specialized phrases like 失礼します (I'm sorry for leaving) or お先に失礼します are used.
Which one should you use?
The forms range from very casual to highly formal. さようなら and its variant さよなら are standard but carry a weight of finality. またね and じゃ、また are natural, casual ways to say see you to friends. バイバイ is a playful loanword from English, while それでは acts as a transition, meaning 'Well then…' or 'In that case…' to signal the end of a conversation before parting.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, さようなら and ごきげんよう are appropriate, as is お先に失礼します when leaving a group. In a work setting, 失礼します or お疲れ様です (to show appreciation for others' efforts) are standard. For informal and colloquial use with friends or family, use またね, じゃ、また or じゃあね (well then, see you). バイバイ is informal and often used by children or in cutesy contexts.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
sayōnara
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid over-using さようなら in daily life. Using it with classmates or colleagues can mistakenly imply that you do not intend to see them again soon.
When do people say it?
Japanese parting customs are highly contextual. When leaving home, it is common to say 行ってきます (I'm off/I'll be back), to which the person staying responds with いってらっしゃい (take care/see you later).
Did you know?
- The word さようなら (sayōnara) actually originated as a conditional phrase meaning 'if it is so' or 'if that is the case'.
- In very formal or old-fashioned settings, the phrase ごきげんよう can be used, which refers to the other person's state of mind or health.
- When leaving a workplace, Japanese colleagues often use お疲れ様です (you are tired/thank you for your hard work) as a way to signal the end of the day.
Examples in context
- さようなら。Goodbye!This sentence shows a simple use of さようなら.Tatoeba #640569 by arihato, translation #516745 by minshirui
- では、さようなら。Well then, goodbye.This sentence demonstrates using さようなら after a transition.Tatoeba #11029805 by small_snow, translation #11827779 by nana2capriccio
- さようなら、さよ子。Goodbye, Sayoko.This sentence shows how to address someone while saying さようなら.Tatoeba #216707 by KK_kaku_, translation #54013 by CN
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At the end of a formal school ceremony.
- 蓮 Ren先生、さようなら。Sensei, sayounara.Goodbye, teacher.
- 陽葵 Himariさようなら、皆さん。Sayounara, minasan.Goodbye, everyone.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵さんも、さようなら。Himari-san mo, sayounara.Goodbye to you too, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himariさようなら、蓮さん。Sayounara, Ren-san.Goodbye, Ren.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goodbye” translations and entries さようなら, さよなら, それでは, またね, バイバイ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries さようなら, さよなら, またね, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
