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How to Say Goodbye in Japanese

Goodbye in Japanese is さようなら (sayounara), but this word is actually used far less than you would think. Japanese has dozens of farewell expressions, and the right one depends on whether you will see the person again soon, if they are leaving on a trip, or if it is the end of a work day.

Common Goodbye Expressions

From formal to casual:

Japanese	Reading	Romaji	English
さようなら	さようなら	sayounara	Goodbye (formal, long-term)
失礼します	しつれいします	shitsurei shimasu	Excuse me / goodbye (polite, leaving work)
お先に失礼します	おさきにしつれいします	osaki ni shitsurei shimasu	Excuse me for leaving first (work)
お疲れ様でした	おつかれさまでした	otsukaresama deshita	Good work today (end-of-work goodbye)
じゃあね	じゃあね	jaa ne	See ya (casual)
またね	またね	mata ne	See you later (casual)
バイバイ	ばいばい	baibai	Bye bye (casual, from English)
また明日	またあした	mata ashita	See you tomorrow

さようならさようなら

sayounaraGoodbye (formal, long-term)

失礼しますしつれいします

shitsurei shimasuExcuse me / goodbye (polite, leaving work)

お先に失礼しますおさきにしつれいします

osaki ni shitsurei shimasuExcuse me for leaving first (work)

お疲れ様でしたおつかれさまでした

otsukaresama deshitaGood work today (end-of-work goodbye)

じゃあねじゃあね

jaa neSee ya (casual)

またねまたね

mata neSee you later (casual)

バイバイばいばい

baibaiBye bye (casual, from English)

また明日またあした

mata ashitaSee you tomorrow

Why さようなら Feels Heavy

Many Japanese learners are surprised to discover that さようなら (sayounara) is rarely used in daily life. It carries a sense of finality — as if you might not see the person for a long time, or ever again. Teachers say it to students at the end of the school day, and it appears in dramatic movie farewells. But between friends, coworkers, and family, Japanese people almost always use lighter expressions like じゃあね (jaa ne) or またね (mata ne). Using sayounara with a friend would feel oddly dramatic.

Goodbye for Special Situations

Specific farewells for specific contexts:

Japanese	Reading	Romaji	English
いってきます	いってきます	ittekimasu	I'm heading out (leaving home)
いってらっしゃい	いってらっしゃい	itterasshai	Have a good trip (response to ittekimasu)
気をつけて	きをつけて	ki wo tsukete	Take care / be careful
お元気で	おげんきで	ogenki de	Stay well (long-term farewell)
良い旅を	よいたびを	yoi tabi wo	Have a good trip
お大事に	おだいじに	odaiji ni	Take care (to someone sick)

いってきますいってきます

ittekimasuI'm heading out (leaving home)

いってらっしゃいいってらっしゃい

itterasshaiHave a good trip (response to ittekimasu)

気をつけてきをつけて

ki wo tsuketeTake care / be careful

お元気でおげんきで

ogenki deStay well (long-term farewell)

良い旅をよいたびを

yoi tabi woHave a good trip

お大事におだいじに

odaiji niTake care (to someone sick)

Leaving Work

The classic end-of-work exchange:

お先に失礼します。 — お疲れ様でした！

Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu. — Otsukaresama deshita!

"Excuse me for leaving before you. — Good work today!"

The いってきます / いってらっしゃい Ritual

One of the most heartwarming Japanese customs is the daily exchange when someone leaves home. The person leaving says いってきます (ittekimasu), literally "I will go and come back." The person staying responds with いってらっしゃい (itterasshai), meaning "go and come back safely." This small ritual happens every morning in Japanese households and is deeply ingrained in the culture.

Common Questions

When should I actually use sayounara?

さようなら (sayounara) is appropriate at the end of a school day (teacher to students), when parting for a very long time, or in formal/ceremonial contexts. For everyday goodbyes with friends, coworkers, and family, use じゃあね, またね, or お疲れ様でした instead.

What do Japanese people say when leaving work?

The standard phrase is お先に失礼します (osaki ni shitsurei shimasu), meaning "excuse me for leaving before you." Others respond with お疲れ様でした (otsukaresama deshita), meaning "good work today." This exchange is universal in Japanese workplaces.

What is the difference between jaa ne and mata ne?

Both are casual goodbyes among friends. じゃあね (jaa ne) is like "see ya" and is more general. またね (mata ne) means "see you again" and implies you will meet soon. In practice they are almost interchangeable.

How do you say goodbye on the phone in Japanese?

For casual calls: じゃあね (jaa ne) or バイバイ (baibai). For polite/business calls: 失礼します (shitsurei shimasu). It is also common to say では (dewa) or それでは (sore dewa) before hanging up, meaning "well then."