Saying “goodbye” in Japanese can be difficult. Not only because goodbyes are always difficult, but because there are many words we can use to say goodbye.

Whether you are talking to your coworkers, friends, or even your dog, you will need to know the right phrase to say.

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さようなら

The first word you probably have learned for “goodbye” in Japanese is さようなら.

Although さようなら is taught in Japanese classrooms as the standard way to say “goodbye,” you won't hear it quite as often as you might expect. This is because it can have a connotation of a final parting.

For example, さようなら is the proper way to say "goodbye" if you won't see the listener for a very long time. On the other hand, you still might hear it spoken by a kindergartner leaving their school:

先生さようなら！
せんせい　さようなら！
Bye, teacher!
Literally: "teacher + goodbye!"
Note: For example, said by a child leaving their school.

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じゃあね

This is a phrase you will want to use with close friends.

It is a very light sounding goodbye and can be translated as “see ya” in English.

It is quite informal so remember not to use it with people of higher status than yourself.

ヤバッ、もう行かなきゃ。じゃあね！
ヤバッ、 もう　いかなきゃ。 じゃあね！
Shit! I gotta go. See ya!
Literally: "shit! / crap! / Oh no! + already + must go. + see ya!"

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またね

またね is another informal phrase that is used with friends.

It is literally translated as “again, right?”

This has a connotation that you will be meeting this person again, and you are telling them you want to.

送ってくれてありがとう。またね！おやすみ！
おくって　くれて　ありがとう。 またね！ おやすみ！
Thanks for seeing me off. See you later. Good night!
Literally: "send off (and) + give (me) + thank you. + see you again! + good night!"
Note: Depending on the context, that first sentence might be translated to something like, "Thanks for walking me to station."

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また明日（またあした）

Another phrase to use for goodbyes, this is literally saying “again, tomorrow.” It can also be followed with ね.

あ、電車来た。じゃあまた明日ね～！
あ、 でんしゃ　きた。 じゃあ　また　あした　ね～！
Oh, my train's here. Well, see you tomorrow!
Literally: "ah, + train + came. + well then + until + tomorrow + ね～！"

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バイバイ

バイバイ is a very informal way to say goodbye.

I often use this when I am saying goodbye to my dog, and he knows this word very well...

A:
バイバイ！
See you!
Literally: "bye-bye!"

B:
バイバーイ、帰ったらメールして！
バイバーイ、 かえったら　メール　して！
See you! Message me when you get home!
Literally: "bye-byyyeee, + when (you) arrive home + mail + do!"

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行ってきます（いってきます）

行ってきます means “I’m leaving,” and is used when you leave the house. It is a set phrase that is only used in this instance.

The response to this phrase is 行ってらっしゃい (いってらっしゃい), which is said by the person staying home. The person staying home may also say 行ってらっしゃい first―the order of the two phrases is interchangeable.

This is a Japanese phrase you can start using today, just remember to yell it to your confused family as you leave every day!

Child:
行ってきまーす。
いってきまーす。
See you! // Bye!

Mother:
行ってらっしゃい。
いってらっしゃい。
See you! // Bye!

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お先に失礼します（おさきにしつれいします）

This phrase uses the word 失礼 which can be translated as “rude.”

It means “I am rudely leaving first,” and it is used in formal situations, like saying goodbye to your coworkers for the night (as long as they're not also leaving at the same time). Just because they want to stay at work super late, doesn't mean you do! So use this phrase to tell them you are going home.

A:
お先に失礼します。
おさきに　しつれい　します。
I'll be leaving then.

B:
お疲れ様です。
おつかれさま　です。
See you tomorrow [next week].

お疲れ様です is another phrase that eludes translation. Literally translated as something like, "Thank you for your hard work," you'll see it being used to say "goodbye," as in this case, or even when raising a beer glass to someone to celebrate another day of work finished.

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This lesson was written by Cassy L., a guest contributor: