Saying goodbye is the conclusion of any conversation, and it’s no different when speaking Chinese. In Taiwan, learning how to say goodbye in Chinese can come in handy in various situations, even if you’re not planning to properly learn the language. In this article, we will delve into ten different ways to bid farewell in Chinese, exploring common phrases and their meanings. Additionally, if you haven’t already, be sure to check out our article on “10 ways to say hello in Chinese.”
A summary of the expressions are available with Pinyin annotation at the end of the article.
再見 (ㄗㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ)
Perhaps the most well-known and commonly used way to say goodbye in Chinese is 再見. The term can be translated to “see you again” and is often used in both formal and informal settings.
下次見 (ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄘˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ)
下次見 translates to “see you next time” and is used when you are planning to see the person you are saying goodbye to in the near future. It is a polite and friendly way of saying goodbye.
明天見 (ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄢˋ)
If you plan on seeing the person the following day, you can say 明天見, which translates to “see you tomorrow.” It’s a great way to end a conversation and let the other person know you’ll be seeing them soon.
You probably wonder why the same character “見” often appears. “見” means “to see,” so all you have to do is add it after any time word. For example :
- 後天見 (ㄏㄡˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄢˋ) – See you the day after tomorrow
- 下週見 (ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄓㄡ ㄐㄧㄢˋ) – See you next week
- 週五見 (ㄓㄡ ㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ) – See you on Friday
回頭見 (ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ)
回頭見 is a way of saying “see you later” or “catch you later.” It’s a casual way of saying goodbye and is typically used among friends or family members.
掰掰 (ㄅㄞ ㄅㄞ)
掰掰 is another casual way of saying goodbye in Chinese. It is the transliteration of the word “bye-bye” in English. It is by far the most common way to say goodbye in Taiwan and you will hear absolutely everywhere! The word is sometimes written as “拜拜,” but this word also means “to pray at a temple,” which can create confusion.
有空再聊 (ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄗㄞˋ ㄌㄧㄠˊ)
If you want to say goodbye but also let the other person know you want to continue the conversation at a later time, you can use the phrase 有空再聊. It translates to “let’s chat when we both have time” and is a polite and friendly way to end a conversation.
照顧自己 (ㄓㄠˋ ㄍㄨˋ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧˇ)
照顧自己 translates to “take care of yourself” and is a way of showing concern for the other person’s well-being. It’s a polite and caring way to say goodbye and is commonly used in formal settings.
告别 (ㄍㄠˋ ㄅㄧㄝˊ)
If you are leaving a gathering or event, you can use the phrase 告别 to say goodbye. It’s a formal and respectful way to bid farewell to a group of people.
告辭 (ㄍㄠˋ ㄘˊ)
告辭 is a more formal way of saying goodbye and is typically used in business or professional settings. It can be translated to “take leave” and is a way of respectfully excusing yourself from a conversation or meeting.
保重 (ㄅㄠˇ ㄓㄨㄥˋ)
Last but not least, 保重 is a way of saying “take care” in Chinese. It’s a polite and caring way of saying goodbye and is often used among friends and family members.
Summary
| Chinese | Bopomofo | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 再見 | ㄗㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ | zài jiàn | Goodbye (see you again) |
| 下次見 | ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄘˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ | xià cì jiàn | See you next time |
| 明天見 | ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄢˋ | míng tiān jiàn | See you tomorrow |
| 後天見 | ㄏㄡˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄢˋ | hòu tiān jiàn | See you the day after tomorrow |
| 下週見 | ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄓㄡ ㄐㄧㄢˋ | xià zhōu jiàn | See you next week |
| 週五見 | ㄓㄡ ㄨˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ | zhōu wǔ jiàn | See you on Friday |
| 回頭見 | ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ | huí tóu jiàn | See you later |
| 掰掰 | ㄅㄞ ㄅㄞ | bāi bāi | Bye bye |
| 有空再聊 | ㄧㄡˇ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄗㄞˋ ㄌㄧㄠˊ | yǒu kòng zài liáo | Let’s chat when we both have time |
| 照顧自己 | ㄓㄠˋ ㄍㄨˋ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧˇ | zhào gù zì jǐ | Take care of yourself |
| 告别 | ㄍㄠˋ ㄅㄧㄝˊ | gào bié | Farewell |
| 告辭 | ㄍㄠˋ ㄘˊ | gào cí | Goodbye (very formal) |
| 保重 | ㄅㄠˇ ㄓㄨㄥˋ | bǎo zhòng | Take care |
There are various ways to say goodbye in Chinese, and each phrase carries a unique meaning and level of formality. Whether you are in a casual or formal setting, it’s essential to choose the appropriate phrase to bid farewell politely. By knowing these ten ways to say goodbye in Chinese, you can express yourself confidently and show respect for the culture and language. So, next time you’re saying goodbye to someone who speaks Chinese, remember these phrases and make a positive impression.
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