30 Ways to Say Goodbye in Japanese: Bid Farewell to Friends, Family and Colleagues with Grace

Saying goodbye in Japanese requires more than just a casual wave and a quick "see you later."

You actually need to consider the level of formality when parting ways, and using the right body language is also essential. There are many potential mistakes, which is the reason I created this guide.

For instance, the most recognized way to say goodbye in Japanese is one you'll probably rarely hear because さようなら ( sayonara ) isn't part of daily conversation. This is due to the word carrying a very definitive feeling—similar to a final farewell at a funeral.

If you're already familiar with greeting someone in Japanese, the next step is to learn how to conclude your conversations properly.

Continue reading for 30 different ways to say goodbye in Japanese!

Casual Ways to Say Goodbye in Japanese

1. See ya — じゃあね

Among friends, this serves as a common and informal way to say goodbye in Japanese. A comparable expression is じゃあ、また ( jaa, mata ), which means "see you."

2. See you later — またね

Similar to the previous phrase, this is a casual farewell for people you know well, implying either "see you later" or "see you soon."

3. Later — じゃねー

This is an informal and conversational way of saying goodbye in Japanese, frequently used among friends, relatives, and acquaintances. It's suitable when parting from friends after a casual meet-up, or even when finishing work for the day (with a colleague you have a friendly relationship with).

4. Take it easy — 気楽にね

The expression “気楽にね” (きらくにね, kiraku ni ne ) can be used for a more relaxed and easygoing farewell. It communicates a feeling of taking things easy or not stressing too much. You can use it with close friends or family members when saying goodbye after a casual get-together or when wishing someone a stress-free departure.

5. Catch you later — また後で

The phrase “また後で” (またあとで, mata ato de ) is an informal way to say goodbye in Japanese, showing the plan to meet or speak again later. It is often used among friends, coworkers, or acquaintances in casual situations.

You could use this expression when parting from someone, suggesting that you anticipate seeing them at another time.

6. Peace out — ピース

This term is taken from English and is used as a friendly and informal way to say goodbye, particularly among younger people or in relaxed environments. You might use this word when leaving friends or peers after a casual gathering or social occasion. It gives your farewell a cheerful and easygoing vibe.

7. Bye bye — バイバイ

You might hear younger individuals, especially girls and women, use this expression, which is identical to the English "bye bye!" Be cautious about using it if you're male, as it can sometimes sound somewhat feminine.

8. Have fun — 楽しんできてね

If talking to someone of a lower status, like a child, you could say this instead: 楽しんでおいで (たのしんでおいで, tanoshinde oide). Translated literally as "go have fun," you can use this phrase to mean "have a good day."

Actually, よい一日をお過ごしください (よいいちにちをおすごしください, yoi ichinichi wo osugoshi kudasai ), which directly means "have a nice day," isn't as frequent or natural sounding as 楽しんでね!

9. Take care — 気をつけて

Just as we use "take care" in English as a parting expression, you can also say 気をつけて in Japanese. It's suitable to say to someone who's leaving your home, or someone who's traveling, for example.

10. Take care of yourself — お体に気をつけて

11. Thanks for having me — お邪魔しました

The present tense お邪魔します (おじゃまします, ojama shimasu ) literally translates to something like "I'm intruding on you," but it's a polite Japanese phrase that essentially means "thank you for having me."

So just as you might say "thanks for having me" in English when departing from someone's home, you can use the past tense version above to bid farewell to a host after visiting their place.

12. Get well soon — お大事に

If you're saying goodbye to someone who is unwell, you can say this to express your hope for their quick recovery.

13. Have a good day — 良い一日を

良い一日を is a polite and positive way to say farewell. You can use this phrase in different scenarios, such as when leaving colleagues in a professional environment, saying goodbye to friends, or offering good wishes to someone you know.

Since it communicates a positive and thoughtful sentiment, you can try using it in both formal and informal settings.

14. Good night — おやすみ

Japanese people don't typically say good night to friends and coworkers—in fact, you might not hear this phrase at all! Nevertheless, it's useful to know because family members use it with each other, along with people in a romantic relationship.

15. I’m leaving home — 行って来ます

If you're leaving your house for a while, you can say 行 って来ます, which literally means "I'll go and return." This phrase is usually called out as you put your shoes on at the genkan (entryway).

The proper response from those remaining at home is 行ってらっしゃい (いってらっしゃい, itte rasshai ), or "go and return safely."

16. See you tomorrow — また明日

There are also many phrases that refer to the next time you'll see the person, like this one, or the similar また来週 (またらいしゅう, mata raishu ), which means "see you next week."

Just before the New Year, I've gotten a few laughs from friends by saying また来年 (またらいねん, mata rainen ) or "see you next year."

These are considered informal, however, so they shouldn't be used to replace the more formal phrases mentioned later.

17. Good job — おつ

This slang farewell actually means "good job" or "you worked hard." I recommend using it only with close friends in informal situations.

Formal Ways to Say Goodbye in Japanese

18. Goodbye (forever) — さようなら

You might have encountered this Japanese word before as "goodbye." And while it is the direct translation, native Japanese speakers don't commonly use it.

That's because さようなら has a strong sense of permanence, implying there's a good possibility you might not see the other person again for a long time—or ever! So I'd avoid saying this to a supervisor or loved one as it could make them feel confused or concerned. It's most fitting for a funeral.

19. Please be well — お元気で

If someone is embarking on a long journey or relocating to a different area and you won't be seeing them for a considerable time, try using お元気で.

It's a bit more formal than "see you," and literally means "be in good health." It implies something similar to "all the best," "look after yourself" or even "good luck!"

20. Farewell — お疲れ様でした

お疲れ様でした is another courteous and respectful way to say goodbye in Japanese.

I'd say it's most frequently used in professional contexts, like workplaces or business dealings, to show appreciation for someone's effort and work. For example, you might use this phrase when ending a meeting, completing a project, or leaving a work-related situation.

21. Until next time — またお会いできる日を楽しみにしています

The phrase, which means "I look forward to the day we can meet again," is considered quite polite and formal (as you may have noticed). It's often used in professional or formal settings, showing eagerness for a future meeting or encounter. You can try using it when parting in business contexts, or when expressing a genuine desire to see someone again.

22. Thank you for today — 今日はありがとうございました

はありがとうございました is commonly used to show thanks and appreciation at the close of a day or an event, such as when finishing a workday or a meeting. Like many of these expressions, it's a polite and formal way to say goodbye, so it's often used in business environments.

23. Good mood — 漢字: ご機嫌よう

Literally meaning "good mood," this is a more formal way of telling someone to take good care of themselves, and to maintain a positive outlook and mood in their life. It sounds quite thoughtful!

24. Farewell — さらばだ

This is a very archaic expression (from the samurai era) for saying goodbye. You won't hear it often—and it's not something you would ever say to your superior—but you could use it jokingly with close friends.

Business Ways to Say Goodbye in Japanese

25. I look forward to our next meeting — 次回お会いするのを楽しみにしております

As you likely deduced, you'll want to use 次回お会いするのを楽しみにしております when parting after a meeting, conference, or any formal interaction. It conveys a sense of expectation for future collaborations and is appropriate for showing courtesy and professionalism.

26. Excuse me for leaving first — お先に失礼します

We all know that Japanese people often work long hours. In Western countries, there might be a quick exit when it's time to leave work—but in Japan, people usually continue working at their desks.

When you finally leave the office, you can politely excuse yourself with this phrase, which literally means "excuse me for leaving before you." You can use the shorter form お先に (おさきに, osakini ) with colleagues you're close to (just not with your manager!).

27. Thank you for your hard work — お疲れ様でした

This phrase is the standard response from those staying in the office. We don't have a direct English translation, but you can think of it as something like "thank you for your hard work." In fact, you can also say it to a coworker who just told you about a challenging client or a lengthy project.

Another similar expression you might hear is: 御苦労様でした (ごくろうさまでした, gokurousama deshita ). It has a similar meaning to お疲れ様でした but is said to people of a lower position than you. For instance, a manager might say 御苦労様でした to their team. Regarding politeness, you're better off using お疲れ様でした.

28. Thank you for everything — お世話になりました

Excellent for use in the office, this phrase also carries the meaning "thank you for your support and help" or even "thank you for your cooperation."

The present tense greeting form is お世話になります (おせわになります, osewa ni narimasu ), but you can use the past tense form above to say goodbye to a coworker who assisted you greatly, or even a client you collaborated with that day.

29. I would appreciate it if you work with me nicely again — またよろしくお願いします

Use this friendly phrase to communicate that you had a positive work experience with the person you're saying goodbye to.

30. Great job today — 今日は素晴らしい仕事をしました

If you believe your colleague did outstanding work on something, here's how to acknowledge them.

Body Language for Saying Goodbye in Japanese

When saying goodbye in Japan, there are several non-verbal cues you should remember.

Bowing

Bow slightly in formal and business situations. The depth of the bow depends on the formality; a deeper bow is more formal.

Maintaining a respectful demeanor

Keep a poised and respectful posture. Refrain from actions like hugging, blowing kisses, or other intimate gestures.

Expressing gratitude

Always show your appreciation by saying “ありがとうございました” ( arigatou gozaimashita ) when you're saying goodbye, especially in formal occasions.

Shaking hands?

In international business settings, a handshake might be used, but a bow is generally preferred and more appreciated.

Using both hands for cards or gifts

If you're going to present a business card or a parting gift, offer them with both hands as a sign of respect. The recipient will respond by accepting the card or gift with both of their hands as well.

Minding others’ personal space

Maintain a suitable distance, honoring personal space. Japanese people generally prefer not to be touched and value their personal space.

Smiling and maintaining eye contact

Smile kindly and keep genuine eye contact when saying goodbye.

So, now you know how to say goodbye in Japanese!

Practice these phrases with your Japanese friends or language partner, or observe them being used naturally in the videos on Lingflix. Lingflix uses authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons. You can try Lingflix for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website. P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

You'll soon be ending your conversations and meetings like a native speaker.