良い旅を
Yoi tabi o
The English phrase "have a great trip" can be expressed in Japanese as 良い旅を (Yoi tabi o).
This phrase is a friendly wish used to tell someone to enjoy their journey as they depart.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 良い, which means "good" and 旅, which means "trip" or "journey".
Which one should you use?
While 良い旅を is a common way to express this sentiment, you can also use 楽しい旅を to specifically mean "Have a fun trip."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
良い旅を is an elliptical form. For someone you are not close to or in a more formal setting, the longer form 良い旅をしてください (please have a good trip) is more appropriate. In formal contexts, you might also use ご旅行をお楽しみください (Please enjoy your trip) or 素晴らしい旅をお過ごしください (Have a wonderful trip). Conversely, 楽しい旅を is considered an informal way to say "Have a fun trip."
How does it change in a sentence?
良い旅を is an elliptical form of a sentence where the verb is omitted, typically implying "have" or "wish you".
How do you pronounce it?
Yoi tabi o
Did you know?
- If you are seeing someone off at a train station or airport, you are more likely to use the phrase 行ってらっしゃい (Go and come back) than wishing them a 'good trip'.
- The word 旅 is a cognate with the Chinese word 'lǚ', and historically referred to people who traveled for trade or religious pilgrimage rather than leisure.
- In Japan, a 'trip' 旅 can refer to a spiritual journey or a lifelong quest, not just a vacation, giving the phrase a deeper emotional weight in literature.
Examples in context
- 良い旅を。Yoi tabi o.Have a great trip.
- 結衣、良い旅を！Yui, yoi tabi o!Yui, have a great trip!
- お互い、良い旅を。Otagai, yoi tabi o.Let's both have great trips.
Example conversation
Yui is at the airport about to board her flight.
- 結衣 Yui陽太、もうすぐ出発の時間だよ。Youta, mou sugu shuppatsu no jikan dayo.Youta, it's almost time for my departure.
- 陽太 Yota分かった。結衣、良い旅を！Wakatta. Yui, yoi tabi o!I understand. Yui, have a great trip!
- 結衣 Yuiありがとう。行ってくるね。Arigatou. Ittekuru ne.Thank you. I'm off!
- 陽太 Yota気を付けてね。Ki o tsukete ne.Take care.
