拜拜
bàibài
The English slang phrase "peace out" can be translated into Chinese as 拜拜 (bàibài).
拜拜 is used as a slang verb meaning to depart.
Meaning: slang: to depart (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
bàibài
Did you know?
- Because the characters 拜拜 can mean 'to pray' or 'to worship', saying it in a temple might be interpreted as a religious act rather than a departure.
- The phrase 拜拜 is a classic example of phono-semantic matching, where foreign sounds are matched to Chinese characters that sound similar even if the meaning is unrelated.
- In a professional setting, using 拜拜 instead of a formal farewell like 再见 might make you appear overly casual or even immature.
Examples in context
- 我走了，拜拜。Wǒ zǒu le, bàibài.I'm off, peace out.
- 我要去睡觉了，拜拜。Wǒ yào qù shuìjiào le, bàibài.I'm going to bed, peace out.
- 同学们，拜拜！Tóngxuémen, bàibài!Classmates, peace out!
Example conversation
Two friends are finishing a chat in a park.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我要去买咖啡了，拜拜。Wǒ yào qù mǎi kāfēi le, bàibài.I'm off to buy coffee, peace out.
- 俊杰 Junjie好，下次再聊。Hǎo, xiàcì zài liáo.Okay, let's chat again next time.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen没问题，再见。Méi wèntí, zàijiàn.No problem, see you.
- 俊杰 Junjie晓雯，慢走。Xiǎowén, màn zǒu.Xiaowen, take care.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 拜拜, CC BY-SA 4.0.
