How to Say Goodbye in Chinese: 再见 (zàijiàn), Bye and See You
Goodbye in Chinese is 再见 (zàijiàn). Hear it, then learn bye, see you later, see you tomorrow and good night the way native Mandarin speakers say them.
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To say goodbye in Chinese, say 再见 (zàijiàn). It literally means "again see", and it is the goodbye you can use with anyone.
How to pronounce 再见#
Both syllables have a falling fourth tone: zài-jiàn. Start each one high and let it drop. The z sounds like the "ds" in kids, and j is close to the English "j" with your tongue flat. Hear the falling tone in the Chinese tones guide if it is new to you.
下课时，学生们对老师说再见。
When class ends, the students say goodbye to the teacher.
上车前，她对爸爸说再见。
Before getting in the car, she says goodbye to her dad.
Other ways to say goodbye in Chinese#
- 拜拜 comes from the English "bye-bye". It is casual and friendly, and you will hear it everywhere.
- [time] + 见 builds "see you [time]": 明天见, 周末见 zhōumò jiàn (see you at the weekend).
- 慢走 mànzǒu literally means "walk slowly". A host or shopkeeper says it to a guest who is leaving.
- 路上小心 lùshang xiǎoxīn means "be careful on the way": a caring goodbye.
Goodbye at night#
At the end of the day, wish people a good night with 晚安:
晚安，明天见。
Good night, see you tomorrow.
Hello, thank you, goodbye#
These three phrases cover most short exchanges in Chinese. If you have not yet, learn how to say hello in Chinese and how to say thank you in Chinese, then practise all three together.
Quick check
Frequently asked questions
How do you say goodbye in Chinese?
Say 再见 (zàijiàn). It literally means "see again" and works in every situation, from shops to classrooms.
How do you say bye in Chinese?
Many people say 拜拜 (báibái or bāibāi), borrowed from the English "bye-bye". It is casual and very common in everyday conversation and on the phone.
How do you say see you tomorrow in Chinese?
Say 明天见 (míngtiān jiàn). The pattern [time] + 见 works for any time, such as 一会儿见 (yíhuìr jiàn, see you in a bit) or 下周见 (xiàzhōu jiàn, see you next week).
