Dictionary / Japanese / Goodbye
How to Say "Goodbye" in Japanese
さようなら
sayōnara
Literally: If that is how it is
Polite or casual
Casualじゃあね (jā ne) / またね (mata ne)
With friends, say じゃあね or またね (see you). When you leave work before your colleagues, say お先に失礼します (osaki ni shitsurei shimasu). さようなら is still what children say to their teacher at the end of the school day.
The mistake to avoid. さようなら is the goodbye that textbooks teach, but adults rarely use it day to day. It can sound final, as if you do not expect to see the person again for a long time. With someone you will see soon, じゃあね or またね sounds natural.
In context
じゃあね、また明日。
Jā ne, mata ashita.
Bye, see you tomorrow.
先生、さようなら。
Sensei, sayōnara.
Goodbye, Sensei.
お先に失礼します。
Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu.
I'm heading off now. (leaving work before others)