🇯🇵 Japanese phrases

How to Say "Goodbye" in Japanese

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
さようなら
"Goodbye" in Japanese · say it like sah-yoh-nah-rah

The most natural way to say "Goodbye" in Japanese is さようなら. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

じゃね
casual, often used among friends
バイバイ
informal, borrowed from English, used among younger people

When to use it

Use 'さようなら' when you want to say goodbye in a polite or formal situation. It is appropriate for both acquaintances and in professional settings. For casual situations, especially among friends, you might use 'じゃね' instead.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "Goodbye" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Japanese

JapaneseEnglish
さようなら、また会いましょう。Goodbye, let's meet again.
Common mistake
Some learners mistakenly use 'さようなら' in very casual situations where 'じゃね' would be more appropriate.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear さようなら, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Japanese with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

When should I use 'さようなら'?

'さようなら' is best used in formal or polite contexts, while 'じゃね' is for casual farewells.

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