You’re here to learn some Japanese, right?
You might already know how to say hello in Japanese.
But, how do you say bye in Japanese?
Keep reading! You’re about to learn 23 ways to say bye in Japanese. Why 23? So you have variety and sound like a confident speaker, my dear junkie. But, you’ll maybe need 2 or 3… like the Ja ne Japanese phrase. So don’t worry about remembering them all.
Now, take this lesson and…
- Read, review, and read out loud
- Print it out as physical review material (I like printing stuff)
- Save images for your personal use (as flashcards)
1) じゃね
- Bye/See ya
- Ja ne – じゃね
The Ja ne japanese phrase is a good one to start with. It’s a super common and casual phrase you’ll hear every single day. Friends use this a lot. So, it’s a good phrase to remember.
If you need to remember any way to say bye, let it be this.
By the way…
As you read this, also listen to this Japanese audio lesson on greetings (hello and goodbye) provided by JapanesePod101You will hear the pronunciation and explanations on when and how to use the greetings. Just press the play button below.
- 3-Minute Japanese – Greetings by JapanesePod101
- (click here to get more FREE lessons like this).
2) お疲れ様でした
- Thank you for your hard work/You worked hard today
- otsukaresama deshita – おつかれさまでした
This is a super common Japanese set phrase and you’ll hear it ALL the time.
But, it’s a bit complicated.
Don’t take it for its literal meaning – but it’s used to say bye to someone that has done work or did a lot. For example, coworkers can say it at the end of the day. You can say it to your friend after a long basketball game. If you want to be casual, just drop the deshita and say “otsukare.”
3) また今度
- Next time!
- Mata kondou – また今度
Very simple way to say bye in Japanese and very casual. Not much to it. Here’s the vocabulary breakdown if you’re interested. There are more “mata” examples in #7. You’ll be interested in the many ways there are on how to say bye in Japanese.
- Mata – Again
- Kondou – Next time.
4) 失礼します
- Excuse me
- Shitsurei shimasu – 失礼します
A super polite phrase. Use it with teachers, bosses and people above you. Basically, you’re apologizing or excusing yourself to leave. Otherwise, don’t use it with friends. Literally, it means – I will be rude/do a rude thing... (like leave!)
- shitsurei – rude
- shimasu – to do
5) また会おう
- Let’s meet again.
- Mata aou -また会おう
Casual phrase. This simply means “let’s meet again.” If you want to be polite, say また会いましょう (mata aimashou). You can even add a “ne” if you want to.
6) 行ってきます
- I’m off!
- Itte kimasu – 行ってきます
This is only used in a specific situation – when you’re leaving the house or when you leave a place that you will return to very soon. Like, later today. You can say it to your family. Literally it means – I’ll go and come back. So, they can expect you to be back. In response, they will say – itterasshai. (Which is kind of like “take care.”)
7) また明日
- See you tomorrow
- Mata ashita –また明日
Literally, this means “again tomorrow” but it’s used to say “see you tomorrow.” There are more examples of this. You can substitute tomorrow with 1) next week, 2) next month, 3) some day, 4) next year… or 5) “next time” as you learned with また今度.
Here are more examples.
- また来週 – Mata Raishuu – See you next week
- また来月 – Mata Raigetsu – See you next month
- また来年 – Mata Rainen – See you next year (who the hell waits that long? We wouldn’t be friends at that point, lol.)
- また月曜日 – Mata Getsuyoubi – See you on Monday
8) さようなら
- Goodbye
- sayounara –さようなら
Most Japanese people don’t use this in daily life. Why? A “sayounara” is a forever-type goodbye. A you’ll-never-see-them-again bye. Think of breaking up. Or going on an Interstellar mission to space. It’s super formal and uptight.
The one situation where people use it is – students saying it to teachers at graduation and what not. Now, some blogs might say it’s not a natural phrase to use. But it is natural. Japanese people will use it on certain occasions. Not in daily life. It just depends on the context.
So that’s what sayonara means in Japanese.
9) ご馳走様でした
- Thank you for the feast
- Go chisou sama deshita – ご馳走様でした
Yes, literally, it means “thank you for the feast” because chisou means feast. When do you use it? After you’re done eating. Is this really a way to say bye in Japanese? Yes. For example, once you’re done eating at a restaurant, you can say this to the chefs. It’s indeed a parting greeting… while at the same time thanking the cooks. You can thank your mom too if you want.
10) 気をつけて
- Be careful
- Ki wo tsukete – 気をつけて
Another variation of saying bye in Japanese. Like in English, the point here is to tell them to get home safe. Not much else to know. Also, yes, a casual Japanese phrase.
11) お大事に
- Get well/Take care of yourself
- O daiji ni – お大事に
People will use this on you if you’re sick. Every time I leave a clinic or hospital in Japan, this is what the staff and nurses tell me – as a way to say bye in Japanese.
So, use it on sick people!
12) 今日はありがとうございました
- Thank you for today
- Kyou wa arigatou gozaimashita – 今日はありがとうございました
Aw, did someone take you out on a date? Aren’t you cute? I mean… yeah… I, the handsome Linguajunkie, go on dates all the time too! Okay, back to the subject!! This is a way to say bye and thank someone for the day. Use it for dates, for when someone helped you and for any other reason you’d want to thank a person and leave.
13) バイバイ
- Bye Bye
- Bai bai – バイバイ
Yes, this is the English way of how to say bye in Japanese. Because it’s a foreign word, it’s written in Katakana rather than Hiragana. Just a cute way of how to say bye in Japanese. Adults use it. Friends use it amongst themselves. Casual.
14) ではまた
- See you later
- De wa mata – ではまた
Another way to say see you later in Japanese. Casual.
Okay, I gave you some different phrases that mean similar things.
For example, じゃね, ではまた, また明日, and また今度.
And it doesn’t really stop there.
There are a TON variations that involve “ja,” “ato” and “mata.”
And there’s not much difference in meaning aside from maybe saying “see you tomorrow (mata ashita)” and “see you next time (mata kondou)” where you should know the difference between “ashita” and “kondou.” So, don’t think too hard about what the differences are. It’s like splitting hairs at times and there’s no need to analyze the specific nuance of “bye.”
But either way, it’s good to know variations.
Now… speaking of variations of how to say bye in Japanese, there’s a ton that involve the words “mata,” “ja,” “sore ja.” and “de wa.” But let’s clear up something:
- “mata” means “again”
- ja, sore ja and de wa – mean “well then.”
- You’d use these variations of “ja,” “sore ja” and “de wa” to transition to a goodbye or cut the meeting and get out. It’s kind of like an awkward “well….” except you can use it to be awkward or to be cold and hurry the hell up.
Now, let’s take a look.
14) じゃ、後で。Ja, ato de.
15) それじゃ、後で。Soreja, ato de.
16) また後で。 Mata ato de.
17) じゃ、また後で。 Ja, mata ato de.
18) それじゃ、また後で。Soreja, mata ato de.
19) 後でね。 Ato de ne.
21) じゃ、後でね。 Ja, ato de ne.
22) それじゃ、後でね。Soreja, ato de ne.
22) また後でね。 Mata ato de ne.
23) それじゃ、また後でね。 Soreja, mata ato de ne.
By the way, “ato de” means later. But as you can see, there’s quite a bit of varations involving “mata,” “ja,” “sore ja.” and “de wa.” Good to know. But no need to memorize them. You get the point.
Conclusion
Now you know a whole bunch ways to say goodbye in Japanese.
But really, all you need is maybe お疲れ様でした, じゃね and さようなら.
And the ja ne japanese phrase is the one you might want to remember for good.
By the way, if you haven’t already, listen to this FREE audio lesson on Japanese parting greetings.
- 3-Minute Japanese – Greetings by JapanesePod101
- click here to get more free lessons like this
How about you?
Do you know of other unique ways to say bye in Japanese?
Leave a comment below and I’ll add it to this list. I read all the comments!
じゃね
– The Main Junkie
P.S. I highly recommend this for Japanese learners. If you REALLY want to learn to Japanese with effective lessons by real teachers – Sign up for free at JapanesePod101 (click here) and start learning!
FAQs
What does ja mata ne mean? ›
Ja(jaa) means like "then". "Mata" means see you. So it could be "see you then" or "then, see you!" "Ne" is used to make a sentence sounds softer.
What do Japanese people say before leaving? ›Ittekimasu and Itterasshai
The phrase “Ittekimasu”, is typically used by a Japanese when they are about to leave somewhere, such as from the home or office. The closest literal translation would be “I'll go and I'll come back”.
– Mata aimashou. (また会いましょう。) Take care! – Ki wo tsukete!
Does Sayonara mean goodbye forever? ›Many people translate “Sayonara” as “Goodbye”, but in reality, there are many different forms of goodbye in Japanese! Unlike the English, “Sayonara” really means “Goodbye forever” or “Goodbye, I don't know when I'll see you again”. Because of this, Japanese people will rarely use the word.
What is OK in Japan? ›The best way to say “Okay” in Japanese to express your acknowledgement of something is to say わかった (wakatta). If you need to speak formally you can use わかりました (wakarimashita).
What does Jaane mean? ›Meaning of Jaane: Name Jaane in the English origin, means A gracious gift of God.
Is Ja ne rude? ›Japanese rude word : Namen ja ne, konoyaro!
“Namen ja ne, konoyaro!” in Japanese, translates literally to English as “Don't think you can make a fool out of me, you person!” Furthermore, one should be well-advised and warned to stay away from the person saying this.
こちらこそ • (kochira koso) (used as a response) I'm the one that should really be saying that. literally: this way, for sure; as in the thanks/apology should really be going this way (your way)
What is Ittekimasu? ›Ittekimasu (行ってきます) means “I will go” and doubles as a “see you later”, or “I'll get going now”. You use this when you are leaving home. It implies that you will also be coming back. You can say it to those you're leaving behind in the morning when leaving home, or at the airport before leaving on a trip.
What do you reply to Ittekimasu? ›Ittekimasu/Itterasshai
Instead, locals say “ittekimasu” to those who will be left behind. The closest literal translation is “I'll go now and come back later”. A more universal equivalent would be “See you later!” The appropriate response is “Itterasshai” to send someone off and wish them a good time.
What does Irashai mean? ›
"Irassharu" is the honorific form (keigo) of the verb "kuru (to come)." All four expressions for a host mean "Welcome". "Irasshai" is less formal than other expressions. It should not be used when a guest is superior to a host.
What is Ikimasu? ›Ikimasu is a verb meaning "go". Ikimashita is the past tense of ikimasu. Ni is a particle. This particle is basically used to indicate an indirect object. Put simply, here, the particle ni indicates the direction of going.
What does Dōitashimashite mean? ›@JapanCrate. Dōitashimashite–どういたしまして means you're welcome in Japanese!? Kinda sounds like "Don't touch my mustache!" What else would you like to learn!?
What is Oyasuminasai? ›おやすみなさい [OYASUMINASAI]
good night. In a casual way, you can say OYASUMI.
“Sayonara” the perfect word to say after killing someone. Indeed, “Sayonara” implies that you will never see the person again. It's a bit sad, and it sounds odd in some situations. For example, imagine yourself saying “Farewell” to your co-workers at the end of your working day?
Does ONII Chan Mean Big Brother? ›What does the Japanese word onii chan mean? According to Drexel University, the Japanese language word onii-chan, or “oniichan” means big brother, or older brother in English. This is considered a term of endearment, and would be used by someone who is very close with their older brother.
What does the name Natsuki mean? ›The name Natsuki is primarily a female name of Japanese origin that means Vegetables, Greens, Moon. Greenery + Moon.
Do Japanese like hugs? ›Hugging means roughly the same thing in Japan as it means in Western countries—it is a way to show affection. However, in Japan, hugging is a bit less common, more romantic, and more often private. Being hugged may seem more serious to a Japanese person than a Westerner.
What is desu desu? ›What does desu mean? Desu is a polite Japanese linking verb meaning “to be” as well other forms of the verb. Western fans of anime and manga sometimes add it to the end of sentences to sound cute and imitate Japanese.
Is there a Japanese word for no? ›The word for 'no' in Japanese is いいえ (iie) or the more familiar いや (iya).
Does ne mean hey in Japanese? ›
The hiragana is made in two strokes, while the katakana is made in four. Both represent [ne]. As a particle, it is used at the end of a sentence, equivalent to an English, "right?" or "isn't it?" It is also used as slang in Japan to get someone's attention, the English equivalent being "hey" or "hey, you."
What does Jamatane mean in Japanese? ›Definition of jamatane
またね matane · じゃまたね jamatane. (exp) good-bye; see you later.
“Mata” is used to refer to events that take place or begin at a specific point in time. In English, the word “again” is a pretty close match. Let's look at example: 僕はまた負けたね (boku wa mata maketa ne)
Why do Japanese say yo? ›“Yo!” in Japanese – よー！
Exactly the same as English. You can greet a close friend informally with a simple yo! You wouldn't say this to anyone older than you, though. This one is also more masculine, but sometimes young girls and women say it, too, to get someone's attention.
よ is for new information and ね is for shared information. Sentence ending particles like よ (yo) and ね (ne) are a fascinating, yet challenging aspect of the Japanese language. They don't really mean anything specific, like 猫 means “cat” or 座る means “sit”, but they certainly add meaning to a sentence.
What is Teme in Japanese? ›The word temee てめぇ, also written with kanji as temee 手前, is essentially a very rude way of saying "you." It's way more rude than saying omae.
What is Kashikomarimashita? ›かしこまりました [KASHIKOMARIMASHITA]
Understood / I have respectfully received your request. It is an honorific way of saying WAKARIMASHITA (I see, I understand). You use it in business settings or when you are talking with your superiors.
Definition: 意味
Learn Japanese vocabulary: そちら (sochira). Meaning: that way (direction distant from the speaker, close to the listener); you; your family; your company.
SUMIMASEN has many different meanings: "I'm sorry", "thank you" and to get someone's attention. It might be confusing at first, but once you've used it for a while, it'll become second nature. When Japanese people say SUMIMASEN, they often bow in appreciation or apology.
What does Gokurosama mean? ›Gokurosama (ご苦労様) is derived from the word kurô (苦労), which stands for hardship. It shows a person had to face difficulties to complete a specific task. The same goes for ostukaresama, which shows a person got tired while trying to complete this task.
What is Yonde Kudasai? ›
Yonde kudasai (読んでください) means “please read.” You can expect to hear this phrase if a teacher wants you to practice reading some word, phrase, or passage.
What does Kiotsukete meaning? ›Updated on May 30, 2019. The Japanese phrase Ki o tsukete means "take care." It is the phrase you would use when saying goodbye to a friend (whom you expect to see again within a few days) or a boss or coworker (whom you expect to see the next day or after a weekend). But the phrase deserves some explanation.
What does Yare Yare mean? ›If you already watched or read JoJo's Bizzarre Adventure in Japanese, you would know the iconic phrase by Jotaro Kujo: “やれやれ” -pronounced “Yare Yare”. The phrase is trasnlated to intrepretations such as “well well”, “good grief” and “give me a break.” It is a common expression in Japan used to show disappointment.
What is Anata? ›/ (ˈænətə) / noun. (in Theravada Buddhism) the belief that since all things are constantly changing, there can be no such thing as a permanent, unchanging self: one of the three basic characteristics of existenceSanskrit word: anatman Compare anicca, dukkha.
How do you reply to Tadaima? ›"Okaerinasai （おかえりなさい）" or "Okaeri （おかえり）are responses to Tadaima. The translation of those words is "welcome home." Tadaima and okaeri are two of the most common Japanese greetings.
What does Gambaro mean? ›Ganbaru (頑張る, lit. 'stand firm'), also romanized as gambaru, is a ubiquitous Japanese word which roughly means to slog on tenaciously through tough times. The word ganbaru is often translated to mean "doing one's best", but in practice, it means doing more than one's best.
What Moshi Moshi means? ›Moshi moshi, or もしもし, is a common Japanese phrase that Japanese people use when picking up the phone. It's a casual greeting used for friends and family, like a “hello”, but in fact means something entirely different! In English, it literally means something more like, “to say to say”, or “I speak I speak”.
What is Shitsurei Shimasu? ›Shitsurei shimasu means “excuse me, please.” The literal translation of the phrase is “I will do something rude.”
What is Ikimasen ka? ›Honda: Ikimasen ka. Do you want to go? (lit. 'Won't you go?) い 行きませんか。
What is Arimasu? ›When we talk about the existence of inanimate things, we use ARIMASU (There is, There are, to exist). Its negative form is ARIMASEN (There are not, not to exist).
What is Torimasu? ›
If you want someone to take your photo then you just need to know the noun for photo, 'shashin' (写真), and the verb for taking a photo, 'torimasu' (取ります) to make the following sentence: Can you take a photo?
What is Nandayo in Japanese? ›15. "Nandayo!" = Bloody hell! 16.
Is Douitashimashite polite? ›It is then polite for us to respond with “You're welcome,” or “どういたしまして (douitashimashite).” Today, we are going to learn all there is to know about douitashimashite and how to use it in Japanese.
How do you respond to Genki desu ka? ›In OGENKI DESU KA (Are you fine?), OGENKI is an adjective GENKI (fine, healthy) with an honorific O before it. If you answer, “Yes, I'm fine,” you say HAI, GENKI DESU.
What is Suki desu meaning? ›at last, 好きです / 'suki desu' means to love, or 好きだ / 'suki da' or 好き / 'suki' in the familiar form. You can add 大 / 'dai' before 'suki' to really mean it, which gives us 大好きです / 'daisuki desu'.
Why do Japanese Add SAN? ›As a rule of thumb, in Japanese business life, the surname name is always followed by the honorific suffix “san” (meaning “dear” or actually “honorable Mr/Ms.”). There are of course many other options such as “sama” (highly revered customer or company manager) or “sensei” (Dr. or professor).
Why do the Japanese say Chan? ›Chan ちゃん This is the most familiar honorific and is supposedly derived from children who couldn't say “San” properly. This small mistake was considered cute and stayed in the language. It is used to refer to young women you're close with, children, babies, a grandmother, or even an animal you're especially fond of.
How do you end a conversation in Japanese? ›2. How to End a Conversation. Sayonara（さよなら) is not normally used when leaving one's own home or places of temporary residence unless one is leaving for a very long time. If you know that you will see a person again soon, expressions like "Ja mata （じゃまた)" or "Mata ashita (また明日)" are used.
What is the difference between Sayonara and ITTE Kimasu? ›During our orientation sessions with Kozue, the program coordinator, we learned two phrases for departing: sayonara, essentially meaning 'goodbye' with the connotation that you will not be returning, and ittekimasu, which directly translates as 'I will go and I will come back.
What is Otsukaresama Deshita? ›As with many foreign languages that have subtler or more abstract turns of phrase, the Japanese term “otsukaresama deshita” has a completely lackluster direct translation. Literally meaning “you are tired” when translated to English, it sounds more like an insult than a rallying cry.
How do you say goodbye in slang? ›
- (formal): adieu, farewell.
- (informal): catch you later, bye, bye-bye, see ya, see you, so long, mind how you go, ta ta, tatty bye, toodeloo, toodles, TTFN, ttyl.
- (slang): buh-bye, hasta la vista, later, laters, keep it real, peace, peace out, take it easy; cya.
Other Ways to Say Goodbye
Farewell – This is a formal way to tell someone to be safe while they are away from you. Cheerio – not generally used in the United States but it is another friendly form of goodbye. See you – This is a more formal way of saying 'see you later'. Used more in a formal sense or workplace.
- This goodbye is forever, but I will forget you never. ...
- I think we were not made for each other and we should move our way. ...
- Our love story has some really great moments. ...
- I don't know whether you will come back or not. ...
- Finally, the time has come to say goodbye.
GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW) Japanese term or phrase: Ja Ne. English translation: Later, see ya, bye.
How do you reply to Matane? ›そうですね。 "Soh desu né." Right. 全（まった）くですね。 "Mattaku desu-né." Exactly.
What is Sarabada Japanese? ›さらばだ (さらばだ, saraba da) – Adios! A very old expression (think samurai times) for saying goodbye is さらばだ (saraba da) and perhaps the closest equivalent expression is “adios!” So it is not something you would ever say to your boss, but you could use it as a joke amongst close friends.
Is Sayonara too formal? ›Sayonara – 元気で Genki de All the best
Say goodbye and at the same time wish them well with this awesome little phrase. It is quite informal and should not be used in formal situations.
It can also be used to say goodbye and farewell to something that won't be encountered again for a long time. As sayonara has a slightly formal sound to most Japanese, it is often used ironically to mean farewell and good riddance.
Is Sayonara Spanish or Japanese? ›Borrowed from Japanese さよなら (sayonara), shorter form of more traditional さようなら (sayōnara, “goodbye”, literally “if that's the way it is”).
Is Otsukare a BTS song? ›[Full HD] SOPE - Otsukare (お疲れ) {BTS Japan Official Fanmeeting Vol.3} - YouTube.
What does Osaki ni Shitsurei Shimasu mean? ›
"Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu." This is one of the most useful phrases for a JET participant to know when working in Japan. Put simply, it means "pardon me for leaving first/before you", and is most often used in the workplace.
What does Osaki ni mean in Japanese? ›Osaki ni means “ahead”, “before”. 失礼 means rude or unpolite and the phrase 失礼しますcan be translated as “being rude / doing something rude” depending on the context. For example, when you enter a room you will knock and say 失礼します to apologize for the interruption.