さようなら
sayōnarastandard, polite
The standard word for "goodbye" in Japanese is さようなら (sayōnara). In daily life people often choose friendlier endings like またね (mata ne), "see you", and じゃあね (jā ne). It is also called 失礼します (shitsurei shimasu).
Meaning: saying goodbye (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| さようなら | sayōnara | standard, polite |
| じゃあね | jā ne | casual |
| またね | mata ne | casual, see you |
| 失礼します | shitsurei shimasu | formal, leaving |
さようなら is common in schools and at formal farewells. Between friends it can sound a bit final.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
失礼します (shitsurei shimasu) is what you say when leaving a room or an office politely.
How do you pronounce it?
Say さようなら as "sa-yoh-na-ra" with the long yō.
Did you know?
- The word さようなら was once a longer phrase meaning roughly "if that is how it must be", a farewell with a feeling of acceptance.
Examples in context
- またね、ばいばい。Mata ne, baibai.See you, bye-bye.
- それでは、失礼します。Sore de wa, shitsurei shimasu.Well then, I will excuse myself.
Example conversation
A student says goodbye to a teacher at the school gate at the end of the day.
- Studentせんせい、さようなら。Sensei, sayōnara.Goodbye, teacher.
- Teacherさようなら、気をつけて帰ってね。Sayōnara, ki o tsukete kaette ne.Goodbye, take care on your way home.
- Studentはい、また明日。Hai, mata ashita.Yes, see you tomorrow.
- Teacherまた明日。Mata ashita.See you tomorrow.
