さようなら
sayōnara[sa̠jo̞ːna̠ɾa̠]
The Japanese phrase for goodbye to your teacher is さようなら (sayōnara).
さようなら is a formal way to say goodbye to a teacher or someone in a position of authority. While often taught as the standard word for goodbye, it can imply a sense of finality or a long-term parting.
How do you pronounce it?
sayōnara
When do people say it?
Beyond a simple goodbye, there are several ways to express gratitude to a teacher when parting. You can say 先生、お疲れさまでした or 先生、お疲れ様でした to say "Teacher, thank you for your hard work" and acknowledge their efforts. To express appreciation for their kindness and support, you can say 先生、お世話になりました. For a general expression of gratitude, 先生、いつもありがとうございました means "Teacher, thank you for everything."
Did you know?
- The word さようなら actually traces its roots to a logical conditional statement, meaning 'if it is so' or 'if that is the case'. It originally served as a way to accept a situation before parting.
- Using さようなら to a close friend or partner can sound cold or suggests that you may never see them again.
- The phrase お世話になりました is a common way to part from a mentor, but it literally translates to 'you have looked after me'. It expresses a deep sense of indebtedness for the care the teacher provided.
Examples in context
- 授業が終わりました。さようなら。Juugyou ga owarimashita. Sayounara.The class has finished. Goodbye.
- また来週。さようなら。Mata raishuu. Sayounara.See you next week. Goodbye.
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are leaving their classroom after a lesson.
- 美咲 Misaki先生、さようなら。Sensei, sayounara.Goodbye, teacher.
- 蓮 Renさようなら。気をつけてね。Sayounara. Ki o tsukete ne.Goodbye. Take care.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮くんも、さようなら。Ren-kun mo, sayounara.Goodbye to you too, Ren.
- 蓮 Renまた明日ね。Mata ashita ne.See you tomorrow.
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.
