Farewells
Farewells in Japanese vary greatly depending on when you'll see the person again, your relationship, and the context. Unlike English's simple "goodbye," Japanese has many nuanced ways to part.
English: "Goodbye" (general)
Japanese: Multiple farewells
Time until next meeting matters
Formality levels vary
Context-specific
Choose appropriately
Temporary Farewells
See you soon
じゃあね
"See you" (casual)
じゃあ
"Well then" (casual)
またね
"See you again"
バイバイ
"Bye bye" (borrowed, casual)
Short separation
Friends/peers
Informal settings
See you later
また後で
"See you later"
後でね
"Later"
じゃ、後で
"Well, see you later"
Same day reunion
Casual only
Among friends
Polite Temporary Farewells
Standard polite
では
"Well then"
それでは
"Well then"
また
"Again / See you"
失礼します
"Excuse me (I'm leaving)"
Appropriate anywhere
Neutral politeness
Safe choice
More formal
失礼いたします
"Excuse me (very polite)"
これで失礼します
"I'll excuse myself now"
お先に失礼します
"Excuse me for leaving first"
Business settings
Showing respect
Leaving work/meetings
Specific Time References
See you tomorrow
また明日
"See you tomorrow"
じゃあ明日ね
"Well, tomorrow then"
明日会いましょう
"Let's meet tomorrow"
Next day plans
Clear timeframe
Common at school/work
See you next time
また今度
"See you next time / some other time"
また次回
"Until next time"
また会いましょう
"Let's meet again"
Indefinite future
Polite intention
Flexible timing
Day-specific
また月曜日に
"See you Monday"
週末に
"On the weekend"
来週
"Next week"
Specific plans
Clear expectations
Scheduling language
Long-Term Farewells
Extended absence
お元気で
"Take care / Be well"
元気でね
"Take care" (casual)
体に気をつけて
"Take care of yourself"
Long separation
Genuine concern
Warm wishes
Indefinite parting
さようなら
"Goodbye" (formal, final)
Use: Long-term or permanent separation
Not: Daily farewells
Serious tone
Relatively rare
Sounds final
Use carefully
Leaving Home
Going out
行ってきます
"I'm going (and will return)"
Use: Leaving home
Response: 行ってらっしゃい
Daily ritual
Implies return
Family phrase
Cultural practice
Wishing someone off
行ってらっしゃい
"Go and come back safely"
気をつけて
"Be careful"
Response: 行ってきます
From home to departing person
Shows care
Standard exchange
Work Farewells
Leaving work
お疲れ様でした
"Thank you for your work"
お先に失礼します
"Excuse me for leaving first"
Response: お疲れ様でした
Standard workplace
Daily routine
Shows respect
Professional norm
Leaving a meeting
これで失礼いたします
"I'll excuse myself now"
本日はありがとうございました
"Thank you for today"
すみません、失礼します
"Sorry, excuse me"
Business meetings
Formal settings
Polite departure
Casual Among Friends
Very casual
バイ
"Bye"
じゃ
"Well"
またな
"See ya"
あばよ
"See ya" (masculine, rough)
Close friends
Peers only
Relaxed atmosphere
Youth slang
おつかれ
"See ya / Good job" (shortened)
おつ
"Bye" (very shortened)
またね〜
"See ya~"
またあとで
"Later"
Modern casual
Young people
Text messages
Phone Farewells
Ending calls
では、失礼します
"Well then, excuse me"
また連絡します
"I'll contact you again"
じゃあね
"See you" (casual)
それでは
"Well then"
Phone-specific ending
Clear closure
Polite sign-off
Business calls
お電話ありがとうございました
"Thank you for calling"
失礼いたします
"Excuse me (hanging up)"
またご連絡いたします
"I'll contact you again"
Professional tone
Respectful ending
Standard business
Visiting Someone
Leaving someone's home
お邪魔しました
"Thank you for having me / Sorry for intruding"
そろそろ失礼します
"I should be going now"
ありがとうございました
"Thank you very much"
Gratitude expressed
Polite departure
Host-guest dynamic
Seeing guest off
お気をつけて
"Take care / Be safe"
またいらしてください
"Please come again"
ありがとうございました
"Thank you for coming"
Host's farewell
Warm send-off
Showing hospitality
Travel Farewells
Going on a trip
行ってきます
"I'm going (and will return)"
行ってらっしゃい
"Have a safe trip"
気をつけて行ってきてね
"Go carefully and come back safely"
Travel departure
Implies return
Family/friends
Long journey
良い旅を
"Have a good trip"
楽しんできてね
"Enjoy yourself"
お気をつけて
"Be careful"
Well wishes
Longer absence
Caring tone
School Farewells
End of school day
また明日
"See you tomorrow"
バイバイ
"Bye bye"
気をつけて帰ってね
"Get home safely"
Student farewells
Casual friendly
Daily routine
To teachers
失礼します
"Excuse me (leaving)"
さようなら、先生
"Goodbye, teacher"
ありがとうございました
"Thank you very much"
Respectful tone
Student to teacher
Polite form
Moving Away Farewells
Relocation
お世話になりました
"Thank you for everything"
ずっと忘れません
"I'll never forget"
また会いましょう
"Let's meet again"
Emotional farewell
Long-term separation
Gratitude expressed
Permanent goodbye
さようなら
"Goodbye"
お元気で
"Take care"
幸せになってください
"Please be happy"
Final parting
Serious tone
Deep emotion
Seasonal Farewells
End of year
良いお年を
"Have a good year"
来年もよろしく
"Please treat me well next year too"
Use: December farewells
Until New Year
Seasonal phrase
Cultural timing
Annual ritual
Refusing to Say Goodbye
Not parting
さよならは言わない
"I won't say goodbye"
またね
"See you again"
これは別れじゃない
"This isn't a farewell"
Emotional moment
Refusing finality
Hope for reunion
Evening Farewells
End of day
おやすみなさい
"Good night" (polite)
おやすみ
"Good night" (casual)
良い夢を
"Sweet dreams"
Bedtime only
Not evening meetings
Going to sleep
Specific usage
Not general farewell
Email/Message Farewells
Email closings
よろしくお願いします
"Thank you / Please and thank you"
失礼いたします
"Respectfully yours"
では、また
"Well then, again"
Written correspondence
Professional norm
Standard closing
Text messages
またね
"See ya"
じゃ
"Well"
おやすみ
"Night"
バイ
"Bye"
Casual digital
Quick sign-off
Modern communication
Store/Service Farewells
Customer leaving
ありがとうございました
"Thank you very much"
また来てください
"Please come again"
またお待ちしております
"We look forward to serving you again"
Staff to customer
Business politeness
Service industry
Customer response
(Usually no verbal response)
or
ありがとう
"Thank you"
Simple acknowledgment
Not required
Brief if any
Regional Variations
Kansai dialect
ほな
"Well then / See ya"
ほなまたな
"See you again"
おおきに
"Thanks / Bye"
Regional flavor
Osaka area
Local identity
Other regions
Standard: じゃあね
Kansai: ほな
Kyushu: じゃあね
Tohoku: したっけ (Hokkaido)
Regional differences
Dialect variations
Local color
Polite vs Casual Scale
Formality levels
Most casual:
じゃ / バイ
Casual:
じゃあね / またね
Neutral:
では / また
Polite:
失礼します
Very polite:
失礼いたします / さようなら
Context determines choice
When to Use さようなら
Appropriate situations
Use さようなら when:
- Long-term separation
- Formal school settings
- Serious farewells
- With people you may not see again
Don't use for:
- Daily goodbyes
- Casual settings
- Friends
- See you tomorrow scenarios
Surprisingly rare
Sounds very final
Adding Emphasis
Warm farewells
またね、楽しかったよ
"See ya, it was fun"
気をつけて帰ってね
"Get home safe, okay?"
ありがとう、また会おうね
"Thanks, let's meet again"
Personal touch
Emotional warmth
Genuine connection
Time-Appropriate Farewells
By time of day
Morning/Afternoon:
では、また / じゃあね
Evening (not bedtime):
お疲れ様です / では
Bedtime:
おやすみなさい
Match timing
Avoid おやすみ early
Context matters
Common Mistakes
Errors to avoid
❌ さようなら for daily goodbye
✓ またね / じゃあね
❌ おやすみ at 6 PM
✓ さようなら / では
❌ バイバイ to boss
✓ 失礼します
❌ 行ってきます when not returning
✓ 行ってくる (going somewhere nearby)
Learn proper context
Avoid awkwardness
Goodbye Combinations
Natural sequences
じゃあ、また明日ね。気をつけて。
"Well, see you tomorrow. Take care."
お疲れ様でした。良い週末を。
"Good work. Have a good weekend."
これで失礼します。ありがとうございました。
"I'll excuse myself now. Thank you very much."
Smooth flow
Multiple elements
Natural speech
Emotional Farewells
Touching moments
寂しくなるよ
"I'll miss you"
また絶対会おうね
"Let's definitely meet again"
ずっと友達だよ
"We'll always be friends"
Emotional depth
Personal connection
Heartfelt words
Quick Departures
Rushing off
ごめん、急いでる
"Sorry, I'm in a hurry"
じゃ、行くね
"Well, I'm going"
急ぐから
"Because I'm rushing"
Abbreviated farewell
Necessary brevity
Still polite enough