Japanese Word for
さようならsayōnara
goodbye · farewell
How to say it
Context
さようなら carries a sense of finality — it's used for long goodbyes or when you may not see someone again soon. For everyday departures, Japanese people more commonly say じゃあね or またね, which feel lighter and warmer.
Ways to say goodbye
じゃあね
jā ne
see ya, bye (very casual)
またね
mata ne
see you later
また明日
mata ashita
see you tomorrow
行ってきます
itte kimasu
I'm leaving (said when leaving home)
気をつけて
ki wo tsukete
take care, be careful
ご縁があれば
go-en ga areba
if fate allows (poetic farewell)
行ってきます (itte kimasu — "I'm going and coming back") and 行ってらっしゃい (itte rasshai — "go and come back safely") are unique Japanese farewell rituals used when leaving home — implying you'll return. The response 行ってらっしゃい is said by those staying behind. These phrases reflect the Japanese value of home as a base you always return to.
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