またね
mata ne[ma̠ta̠ ne̞]
To say goodbye: see you later in Japanese, use またね (mata ne).
またね is a casual goodbye when you expect to see the person again soon.
What does it mean word for word?
また (mata) means again and ね (ne) is a sentence ending particle that softens the phrase, a little like right? Or okay?
Which one should you use?
じゃあね means see you or later and is just as casual. また今度 (mata kondo) means see you next time and is a little more general. さようなら (sayounara) can sound final or formal, so friends often avoid it in daily life. A formal option is また後ほどお会いしましょう, let's meet again later.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
またね is informal. Use it with friends, family or peers rather than superiors or strangers.
How do you pronounce it?
It is romanized mata ne.
Did you know?
- In Japanese workplaces, employees often say お疲れ様でした ('you worked hard') instead of a casual 'see you later' to acknowledge the shared effort of the day.
- In casual settings, Japanese speakers often omit the 'goodbye' phrase entirely and simply wave or nod, as explicitly stating a departure can sometimes feel too abrupt.
- The particle ね in またね acts as a social glue, seeking a small agreement from the listener to ensure both parties are on the same page about meeting again.
Examples in context
- またね！Mata ne!See you later!
- じゃあ、またね。Jaa, mata ne.Well, see you later.
- 明日、またね。Ashita, mata ne.See you again tomorrow.
Example conversation
Two friends are leaving a cafe after studying.
- 美咲 Misaki今日はありがとう、またね。Kyou wa arigatou, mata ne.Thanks for today, see you later.
- 蓮 Renうん、またね、美咲。Un, mata ne, Misaki.Yeah, see you, Misaki.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮くん、また明日！Ren-kun, mata ashita!Ren, see you tomorrow!
- 蓮 Renまた明日！Mata ashita!See you tomorrow!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry またね, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
