See You Later in Chinese: Accurate Chinese Phrases for Every Goodbye Situation

The truth is, "see you later" is the ultimate chameleon phrase when learning Chinese. It can be a quick, throwaway line, a sincere promise, or a casual bridge to the next hangout. The most common English equivalent isn't even a direct translation, because even in English, "see you later" can mean literally "later", or "I'm not gonna see you anytime soon." In other words, nailing this is less about vocabulary and more about the context. Let's tune yours up.

What are the standard phrases for "see you later" in Chinese?

We have to clear the ground first. When you think "see you later," you likely mean "goodbye": .

It's the first phrase everyone learns, and for good reason. It's your safe, polite, all-purpose "goodbye." The upside is its universal clarity, and it literally means "see you later" because means once again, and is to see.

For the "see you later" vibe, if you say or , it's absolutely misleading, making people think that there is another arranged meeting or hang-out with you very soon, like 15 minutes later.

How to say goodbye when you know exactly when you'll meet?

This is where Chinese gets beautifully precise. The language has built-in shortcuts for confirmed future meetings, which I’ve always loved. Why be vague when you can be specific? These phrases remove all ambiguity and show you’re reliable.

You can slot in almost any time reference. These phrases are for concrete plans— leaving class, finishing a work shift, or parting ways before a scheduled dinner. They turn a goodbye into a calendar reminder. So far as certainty is concerned, these are your best friends. They’re straightforward, warm, and build trust because they demonstrate you’re thinking ahead to the next encounter.

What are the informal expressions for friends and text messages?

Alright, let's get into the fun stuff — the phrases that bring you from "language learner" to "someone in the know." In casual spoken Mandarin and especially in digital chats, people shorten, play, and bend the rules. Here’s the phrases you’ll hear:

And for texting, you have the ultimate quick hit:
。
I'm slipping away./I'm outta here.

This is playful, self-deprecating, and very Gen Z. It paints a picture of someone sneaking away, often used humorously when leaving an online chat or a long gathering.

What are the commonly used four-character phrases of saying goodbye?

If you want to know a little bit more about the Chinese "see you later", you move beyond simple phrases and into the realm of — the classical four-character idioms. You'll hear them in formal speeches, read them in writing, and they're the ultimate tool for adding a layer of meaningful resonance to a goodbye.

Here are some examples:

These aren't "see you" phrases per se, but they are the essential, culturally ingrained companions to any significant farewell. You say them as someone departs, completing the ritual of parting by expressing care for the interval before you meet again. Using them correctly shows you understand that a goodbye isn't just about the parting, but about the well-being of the other person in the time you're apart.

Migaku can empower you to learn ways of saying goodbye!

There are how modern people say "see you later", and how ancient culture expressed "see you later"! If you enjoy Chinese dramas in ancient settings like I do, Migaku can help you explore the goodbyes in (Costume drama) as well.

Migaku app can help generate Chinese subtitles even when the video does not feature any. For example, Migaku app can generate subtitles for this cut from Empresses in the Palace with the English translation. You can also click the words or sentences to add them to your flashcard collections and review them later. This is how you can click and save the goodbye words if you encounter any!

FAQs

Do you know that "goodbye" is a common theme in Chinese poems?

That's the sadness of the farewell poems, no matter whether it's for saying goodbye to a friend or bidding farewell to a lover who has passed away. The ancient times did not have the communication tech or the medical conditions for long-lasting lives and relationships. That's why bidding farewell is such a common theme in Chinese poems...

Like the Migaku screenshot shown in the previous section, Zhenhuan is bidding farewell to the Emperor, quoting from a poem line. If you're interested in Chinese culture, there are more costume dramas for you to explore this theme!

"Parting is such sweet sorrow..."