How to Say "goodbye" in Chinese

How to Pronounce 再见

Both syllables are 4th tone (sharp falling):

• 再 (zài) — “again” — falls sharply from high to low
• 见 (jiàn) — “see” — same sharp falling motion

Together: “ZAI jyen” — both syllables fall decisively. The word literally means “see again.”

When to Use 再见

再见 is the standard, all-purpose goodbye — formal enough for a job interview, casual enough for a convenience store. Use it when:

• Leaving a meeting or office
• Ending a phone call (though 拜拜 is more common on the phone)
• Saying goodbye to a friend after dinner
• Checking out of a hotel

Casual Alternatives

Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning	Formality
拜拜	bāi bai	Bye-bye (borrowed from English)	Casual
回头见	huí tóu jiàn	See you later / See you around	Casual
明天见	míng tiān jiàn	See you tomorrow	Any
下次见	xià cì jiàn	See you next time	Any
一会儿见	yī huìr jiàn	See you in a bit	Casual
走了！	zǒu le!	I’m off! / Leaving now!	Very casual

Examples in Sentences

1. 再见，明天见！ — Zài jiàn, míng tiān jiàn! — “Goodbye, see you tomorrow!”
2. 好，那我先走了，再见！ — Hǎo, nà wǒ xiān zǒu le, zài jiàn! — “Okay, I’ll head off then — goodbye!”
3. 拜拜！保重！ — Bāi bai! Bǎo zhòng! — “Bye! Take care!”

Cultural Context

Chinese goodbyes often involve a ritual of walking the guest out — your host will escort you to the door, down the elevator, or even to the street. Letting a guest find their own way out is considered impolite. This hospitality extends to professional settings too.

On the phone, 拜拜 (bāi bai) is the dominant casual sign-off among younger people. Older generations may use 再见 or 好，挂了 (hǎo, guà le — “okay, hanging up”).

Common Mistakes

1. Using 再见 when you won’t see the person again — 再见 literally means “see again,” which is fine in most cases. But in very formal final farewells, you might use 珍重 (zhēn zhòng — “take care of yourself”).
2. Skipping the escort — If hosting Chinese guests, walk them at least to the door. This matters.

Practice

Say goodbye to a friend you’ll see tomorrow: 明天见！ — Míng tiān jiàn! — “See you tomorrow!”