# Saying Goodbye in Japanese - Sayonara! > There are a number of handy ways to say goodbye in Japanese besides さようなら (sayonara). From formal farewells to casual see ya's, this article covers the more popular ways to bid someone adieu. **URL:** https://migaku.com/blog/japanese/goodbye-in-japanese **Last Updated:** 2025-10-20 **Tags:** fundamentals, vocabulary --- _Bye mom! See ya later, Hideki!_ In English, expressing a farewell is as simple as just saying "goodbye". In Japanese, however, there are multiple ways of expressing this feeling depending on the circumstances. So before you say _sayonara_, delve into a few ways to say _tata_ in Japanese, one of language's more nuanced aspects. --- ## さようなら for specific farewells Undoubtedly, one of the first words that comes up when you search _goodbye in Japanese_ is the word さようなら (also, さよなら). Yes, this does mean _goodbye_ in Japanese, but it has more of a "final goodbye" feeling to it. ### Dramatic Goodbyes This can be seen in movies and dramas when the two lovers or friends part with each other knowing that this may be the very last time they will see each other in a while. It can actually feel quite dramatic. [This scene](https://youtu.be/6Mzpu-iLilo?si=4cOktoFa-42sJ4FK) from the anime _Death Note_ shows the main character (also murderer) sending someone who was hot on his trail to her death. Around 2:17, he bids her farewell using さようなら. This dramatic scene is exactly when _sayonara_ would be used. ### At School Interestingly, _sayonara_ is also commonly used in the classroom when saying goodbye, especially in elementary school classrooms. Young students are taught to say _sayounara_ to the teacher when going home, which the teacher also uses towards the children. This, however, tends to change when students get into middle and high school. At that time, students tend to use 失礼します (_shitsurei shimasu_) towards the teacher since Japanese middle/high schools tend to expect more formal language as they grow into adults. | Phrase | Translation | Context | |-----------|----------------|------------| | さようなら ／ さよなら | Good bye, farewell | Used for dramatic, long farewells or with young kids in elementary school | --- ## 失礼します when saying goodbye in formal contexts The word 失礼 (_shitsurei_) means _rude_ or _rudeness_ and, when combined with する (_suru_, meaning "to do"), you get another way to express a farewell. Literally, you are saying _I am committing a rudeness (by leaving while everyone is still there)_. Japanese is full of these roundabout ways of expressing certain meanings especially when it comes to formal contexts. This expression is commonly heard when leaving a classroom with your teacher still inside or towards your superiors when you leave their office. You can think of the English equivalent as "Please excuse me." > 失礼します。
Please excuse me. If can be made even more formal by using いたします instead of します: > 失礼いたします。
Please excuse me. _(Very formal!)_ You can combine it with （お）先に (_o-saki ni_, meaning "before [everyone else]") when you want to go home for the day from the office. Everyone you're leaving behind will follow up with お疲れ様でした (_o-tsukare sama deshita_, meaning something like, "thank you for your hard work"). The full interaction would go something like this: > お先に失礼します。
Please excuse me (I'm headed home now). > > お疲れ様でした。
Thanks for all of your hard work today. | Phrase | Translation | Context | |-----------|----------------|------------| | 失礼します | Please excuse me | Used to bid teachers, bosses, or coworkers farewell when leaving (usually) for home | --- ## 行ってきます when leaving the home When saying goodbye to your family members (or other housemates) with the intention of returning home again later, you can use the phrase 行ってきます (_itte kimasu_, literally meaning "I'll go and come back"). This phrase is usually paired with 行ってらっしゃい (_itte rasshai_, literally meaning "Go and come back"). Together, they form a set of expressions used whenever someone leaves the house: > (Child leaving home for school) 行ってきます！
Bye, I'm off (to school)! > > (Mom who is still in the house) 行ってらっしゃい！Good bye! | Phrase | Translation | Context | |-----------|----------------|------------| | 行ってきます | Good bye (I'll come back later) | Used when leaving the home with the intention of returning some time later | | 行ってらっしゃい | Good bye (see you back home later) | Used by those remaining in the house towards those leaving for a time | --- ## じゃあ、また and other informal goodbyes With friends and family members, there are a number of informal ways to give a farewell that do not imply a long-lasting goodbye. The examples to follow all come from the phrase: > では、また会いましょうね。
Well then, let's meet again. Breaking this down, we get the following words: - では (_de wa_, "well then") - また (_mata_, "again") - 会いましょう (_ai mashō_, "let's meet") - ね (_ne_, the "friendly comment" particle) Informal ways to say "bye" or "see ya" all stem from different combinations of these words and their variations. では and また, for instance, can combine to form this: > では、また。
Well then, (see you) again (soon). But では sounds a little rigid or stiff, so most people use its more casual form: じゃあ (also, じゃ): > じゃあ、また。
Well then, (see you) again (soon). Adding the "friendly comment" particle at the ends gives it a very friendly feel to the farewell: > じゃあ、またね。
Well then, (see you) again (soon) ☺️. Using な instead of ね essentially provides the same meaning, but sounds a tad more masculine. > じゃあ、またな。
Well then, (see ya) again (soon, bro). And oftentimes the また is dropped altogether: > じゃあね！
See ya ☺️! | Phrase | Translation | Context | |-----------|----------------|------------| | では、また会いましょうね。 | Well then, let's meet again. | Polite way to give a temporary farewell | | じゃあ、また会おうね。 | Well then, let's meet again. | More casual than では、また会いましょうね | | では、また（ね／な）。 | Well then, (let's meet) again (soon). | More casual than では、また会いましょうね | | じゃあ、また（ね／な）。 | Well then, (let's meet) again (soon). | Slightly more casual than では、また | | またね。 | See ya ☺️! | Very casual way of saying goodbye | | またな。 | See ya, bro ☺️! | Slightly more masculine way of saying またね | | じゃあね。 | See ya ☺️! | Very casual way of saying goodbye | | じゃあな。 | See ya, bro ☺️! | Slightly more masculine way of saying じゃあね | - - - ## Older, rarer goodbyes There are a couple of popular expressions that used to be more commonly used for farewells. Today, however, they are mostly used sarcastically or in a humorous, light-hearted way. ### あばよ So long, partner This is an older way to say "goodbye" that may have been used more seriously decades ago. Those who are familiar with [Ken Naoko in the 70s](https://youtu.be/Cr_7wduao2g?si=G2-tNApGhO51uoQk) or with [Ultraman in the 80s and 90s](https://www.tiktok.com/@_xzyee_/video/7508251694296223032) may recall this phrase. Nowadays, however, no one actually uses it to mean _goodbye_ and, instead, if it is used at all, it's used jokingly or to sound silly. ### さらば Godspeed This is also an outdated way to say _goodbye_. As with あばよ, it is used these days in a comical, [light-hearted way](https://youtu.be/03ebpeKEGmI?si=01nEq-uGwiy-LzGp&t=8). Some older men may also use this expression with じゃ: > さらばじゃ！
Adios! | Phrase | Translation | Context | |-----------|----------------|------------| | あばよ | Tata, cheerio, so long partner | Recently, used only humorously | | さらば | Adios, adieu, godspeed | Recently, used only humorously | - - - ## バイバイ Bye-bye And, of course, English rears its dominating head with an import of the ever-popular _bye-bye_. This is a very informal farewell expression and should only be used with your close friends or family. Since this word is imported from English, it should always be written in katakana (or else you risk confusing it with the word 売買 (_baibai_, meaning "buying and selling"). | Phrase | Translation | Context | |-----------|----------------|------------| | バイバイ | Bye-bye | Used in very informal circumstances with close friends and family | --- ## Now that we've learned several Japanese goodbyes: Goodbye! There are a bunch of ways to say goodbye in Japanese. Hopefully this article was able to shed some light on just a few of the more popular ones. And always remember: > If you consume media you enjoy in Japanese, and you understand some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. _Period_. And with that, this article bids you a humble farewell. またね！