Hi, I'm Kuma.
Today, I explain how to say "Goodbye" in Japanese. It's important expression which you should know before traveling in Japan or coming to Japan. I'm native Japanese so I tell you natural expressions for Japanese. Here we go!
How to say "Goodbye" in Japanese
There are mainly three expressions in Japanese when you want to say "Goodbye" like these.
Goodbye in Japanese
- じゃあね
- またね
- ばいばい
- さようなら
- あばよ
I explain that in order.
じゃあね（Jaane）、またね（Matane）
The first expression are "じゃあね（Jaane）" and "またね（Matane）".
じゃあね/またね
Jaane /Matane
"Goodbye"
It's the same meaning and we use these words as same way.
The meaning of these word is similar to "see you" and "goodbye" in English.
How to reply when you are said these words
You can use the same word like below
①きょうはたのしかったね【Kyouwa tanoshikattane : meaning : It was fun today.】
②うん【Unn：meaning : Yes】
It's so simple, and easy to say that!
ばいばい（byebye）
Next phrase is ばいばい（byebye）. It's the same meaning of "bye" and "goodbye"
Probably, it's easy for you to memorise this phrase because it just repeats "bye" twice. You can use this word in Japan as well.
ばいばい
Byebye
"Bye"
Example
There's not much difference between ばいばい and じゃあね、またね. However, in my feeling, ばいばい is cuter, haha.
さようなら（Sayounara）
The third expression is "さようなら Sayounara". Sayounara is more polite expression compared with two expressions above. Japanese tend to use this phrase when they tell older people than themselves.
さようなら
Sayounara
"See you"
In Japan, elementary school students say さようなら to their teacher before they go to home.
Exmaple
The song which include "さようなら" in the lyrics
The song name is "楓(Kaede)" by スピッツ(Spitz)
さようなら 君の声を 抱いて歩いていく（Sayounare kiminokoewo daite aruiteiku)
The meaning of whole sentence is "Goodbye, I'm walking with hugging your voice".
Vocabualy
- さようなら(Sayounara)="Goodbye"
- 君の声を(Kiminokoewo)=Your voice
- 抱いてあるいていく=walking with hugging
I feel sad when I listen to this song. This is because this song is about the special one(like lover) whom we cannot see anymore.
あばよ(Abayo)
The last phrase is "あばよ（Abayo)". It's difficult to explain this phrase. This is more casual, and cooler expression of ”さようなら".
あばよ
Abayo
"Bye"
If you use this word, many Japanese will be surprised!
At last
Today, I explain how to say goodbye in Japanese. These are natural phrases which Japanese usually use. I want you to use these phrases when you say bye to Japanese. See you!（またね！）
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