また近いうちに話しましょう
mata chikai uchi ni hanashimashō
The English phrase "talk to you soon" can be expressed in Japanese as また近いうちに話しましょう (mata chikai uchi ni hanashimashō).
This phrase is a friendly way to say goodbye when you expect to speak with someone again in the near future.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of mata (again), chikai uchi ni (within a short time/soon) and hanashimashō (let's talk).
Which one should you use?
The default form また近いうちに話しましょう is polite and suitable for business acquaintances or people you are not close with, whereas またね is for friends.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, you might use 近々お話しましょう to say "Let's talk soon" or また連絡いたします to mean "I will contact you again." In casual settings with friends, people rarely use the full sentence and instead use the much shorter またね to say "See you / Bye."
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Tokyo area, またあとでね is commonly used to mean "see you later."
How do you pronounce it?
mata chikai uchi ni hanashimashō
Did you know?
- In many professional Japanese emails, instead of saying 'talk to you soon', people use the set phrase 引き続きよろしくお願いいたします, which translates more closely to 'please continue to treat me well'.
- In Japanese culture, saying またね can sometimes be a 'social lubricant' to end a conversation politely without committing to a specific date.
- If you are speaking to a superior, you should avoid using またね or any version of 'talk to you soon' and instead use more formal expressions of gratitude or 'it is a pleasure to have spoken with you'.
Examples in context
- また近いうちに話しましょう。Mata chikai uchi ni hanashimashou.Talk to you soon.
- それでは、また近いうちに話しましょう。Sore de wa, mata chikai uchi ni hanashimashou.Well then, let's talk again soon.
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are finishing a phone call.
- 美咲 Misaki今日はありがとう。もう行くね。Kyou wa arigato. Mou iku ne.Thanks for today. I'm going now.
- 蓮 Renこちらこそ。また近いうちに話しましょう。Kochira koso. Mata chikai uchi ni hanashimashou.Likewise. Talk to you soon.
- 美咲 Misakiうん、またね！Un, mata ne!Yeah, see you!
- 蓮 Renまたね。Mata ne.Bye.
