The Farewell That Promises A Next Time
再見 is the classic way to say “goodbye” in Mandarin. Literally “see again,” it closes a conversation with a small promise baked in: this isn’t the end, just a pause until the next meeting. In everyday speech, people often reach for shorter or warmer options—especially among friends—but 再見 stays useful in classrooms, shops, offices, and any neutral setting where a clear, polite farewell is right.
What 再見 Means And How It Sounds
再 (zài) carries the sense of “again,” and 見 (jiàn) means “to see.” Put together, 再見 (zàijiàn) means “see you again,” the Mandarin sibling of English “goodbye.” Pronounce it with two falling tones: zài (4) + jiàn (4). Keep them crisp, like two neat steps: zài… jiàn.
When 再見 Fits, And When It Feels Stiff
再見 works cleanly at the end of a transaction, after a class, when leaving a meeting, or when parting from someone you don’t know well. With close friends, many speakers use lighter choices—掰掰 (bāibai), 下次見 (xiàcì jiàn), or just 走了 (zǒu le, “I’m off”). In texting, short sign-offs are common: 先這樣 (xiān zhèyàng, “let’s stop here”), 下次聊 (xiàcì liáo, “talk next time”), or 晚點再說 (wǎndiǎn zàishuō, “chat later tonight”).
Friendly, Polite, And Formal: Farewells By Register
A conversation doesn’t need only one goodbye. Mandarin gives flexible endings that adjust tone, warmth, and formality. The table below groups common options by feel; mix as needed.
| Function | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Natural Use |
| Neutral “goodbye” | 再見 | zàijiàn | Clear, polite; shops, classes, meetings |
| Casual “bye” | 掰掰 / 拜拜 | bāibai | Everyday, friendly, cross-regional |
| See you next time | 下次見 / 回頭見 | xiàcì jiàn / huítóu jiàn | Sets expectation to meet again |
| See you tomorrow | 明天見 | míngtiān jiàn | School, work, plans set |
| I’m off / I’ll head out | 我先走了 | wǒ xiān zǒu le | Soft, considerate exit among peers |
| Excuse me (I’ll take my leave) | 失陪了 | shīpéi le | Formal, polite settings |
| Take care | 保重 / 多保重 | bǎozhòng / duō bǎozhòng | Parting with concern or distance |
| Walk slowly (to the leaver) | 慢走 | màn zǒu | Host sees guest off; courteous, warm |
| Thanks, bye | 謝謝，拜拜 / 謝謝，再見 | xièxie, bāibai / xièxie, zàijiàn | Shops, counters, service contexts |
Phone And Text Sign-Offs
Ending a call or chat has its own rhythm. These choices keep things natural without sounding abrupt.
- 先掛了。
Xiān guà le.
I’ll hang up now. - 先到這。改天聊。
Xiān dào zhè. Gǎitiān liáo.
Let’s stop here. Chat another day. - 晚點再說，拜拜。
Wǎndiǎn zàishuō, bāibai.
Talk later tonight, bye. - 我到家再回你。
Wǒ dàojiā zài huí nǐ.
I’ll reply when I get home.
Tone Shapers: Particles And Softeners
Sentence-final particles subtly adjust mood. Adding 啦 (la), 囉 (luō/lo), or 喔 (ō) can tilt a goodbye toward cozy, playful, or gently final.
- 再見囉。zàijiàn luō. A light, winding-down feel.
- 掰掰啦。bāibai la. Relaxed among friends.
- 明天見喔。míngtiān jiàn ō. Friendly, upbeat confirmation.
Use them in informal contexts; drop them in formal situations.
Dialogues For Real Situations
Shop Counter
店員：歡迎下次再來。再見。
Diànyuán: Huānyíng xiàcì zàilái. Zàijiàn.
Clerk: Welcome again next time. Goodbye.
顧客：謝謝，再見。
Gùkè: Xièxie, zàijiàn.
Customer: Thanks, goodbye.
Office Exit
A：我先走了，明天見。
A: Wǒ xiān zǒu le, míngtiān jiàn.
A: I’m heading out—see you tomorrow.
B：好，路上小心。
B: Hǎo, lùshàng xiǎoxīn.
B: Got it—travel safe.
Friends After Coffee
A：時間差不多了，下次見。
A: Shíjiān chābùduō le, xiàcì jiàn.
A: It’s about time—see you next time.
B：好，掰掰。
B: Hǎo, bāibai.
B: Yeah, bye-bye.
Formal Visit
甲：今天承蒙招待，失陪了。
Jiǎ: Jīntiān chéngméng zhāodài, shīpéi le.
A: Thank you for hosting today; I’ll take my leave.
乙：慢走。
Yǐ: Màn zǒu.
B: Take care on your way.
Video Call Wrap
A：先到這，檔案等一下寄你。再見。
A: Xiān dào zhè, dǎng’àn děng yíxià jì nǐ. Zàijiàn.
A: Let’s stop here; I’ll email the file in a bit. Goodbye.
B：收到，拜拜。
B: Shōudào, bāibai.
B: Got it, bye.
Politeness With Titles
Titles slip easily into farewells to add respect.
- 老師再見 / 老師慢走
Lǎoshī zàijiàn / Lǎoshī màn zǒu
Goodbye, teacher / Take care, teacher. - 經理再見
Jīnglǐ zàijiàn
Goodbye, Manager. - 各位來賓再會
Gèwèi láibīn zàihuì
Farewell, honored guests.
再會 (zàihuì) is a more formal cousin of 再見; it reads ceremonious and works on stage or in written announcements.
Micro-Pronunciation And Rhythm
Keep 再見 compact and clear. Both syllables fall: zài → jiàn. Avoid stretching the second syllable into a rising tone. With 掰掰, aim for two quick, even beats: bāi-bai. 慢走 pairs a soft fourth-tone clip on 慢 with a light third-tone dip on 走—don’t hammer it; it’s a courtesy, not a command.
Cultural Rhythm: When People Skip “Goodbye”
Among close friends or in fast-moving chats, speakers often jump straight to a plan instead of saying “goodbye” at all:
- 那我先走。Nà wǒ xiān zǒu. I’ll head out then.
- 明天十點見。Míngtiān shídiǎn jiàn. See you at ten tomorrow.
- 回去再說。Huíqù zàishuō. We’ll talk after I get back.
Function beats formula: the most natural “goodbye” is sometimes a next step.
Character Anatomy (Memory Hooks)
再 packs the idea of repetition or “again,” perfect for a see-you-later farewell. 見 shows the eye radical 見 itself, literally “to see.” Put them together and the meaning is as visual as it gets: see—again.
Common Learner Mistakes And Smooth Fixes
Saying 再見 in every situation can sound stiff with peers; swap to 掰掰 or a plan-based line (明天見). Using 慢走 when you’re the one leaving flips the roles; 慢走 is what the person staying says to the person heading out. Mixing up 再見 and 再會 isn’t fatal, but 再會 reads formal—save it for microphones and signage. On calls, remember a closing phrase before you drop: 先掛了 / 改天聊 keeps the end polite.
Practice Drills (Copy-Ready)
- 我先走了，＿＿＿＿見。
Wǒ xiān zǒu le, ______ jiàn.
I’m heading out—see you ______. - 謝謝光臨，＿＿＿＿。
Xièxie guānglín, ______.
Thanks for coming, ______. - 先到這，檔案等一下傳。＿＿＿＿。
Xiān dào zhè, dǎng’àn děng yíxià chuán. ______.
Let’s stop here; I’ll send the file shortly. ______. - 今天辛苦了，路上小心，＿＿＿＿。
Jīntiān xīnkǔ le, lùshàng xiǎoxīn, ______.
Good work today; travel safe, ______. - 失陪了，各位＿＿＿＿。
Shīpéi le, gèwèi ______.
I’ll take my leave now, everyone ______.
Quick Reference Table
| English | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Notes |
| Goodbye | 再見 | zàijiàn | Neutral, clear |
| Bye / Bye-bye | 掰掰 / 拜拜 | bāibai | Casual, friendly |
| See you next time | 下次見 | xiàcì jiàn | Sets the next meeting |
| See you tomorrow | 明天見 | míngtiān jiàn | Time-specific |
| I’ll head out | 我先走了 | wǒ xiān zǒu le | Soft, considerate |
| Take care (to leaver) | 慢走 | màn zǒu | Host to guest |
| Take care of yourself | 保重 | bǎozhòng | Care/concern |
| I’ll hang up now | 先掛了 | xiān guà le | Phone ending |
| Talk next time | 下次聊 | xiàcì liáo | Chat sign-off |
| Farewell (formal) | 再會 | zàihuì | Ceremonious, public address |
Curtain Call, Yak-Style
A good goodbye matches the moment. 再見 keeps things polished, 掰掰 keeps them friendly, 慢走 keeps them caring, and 明天見 keeps them moving forward. Choose the one that fits the room, let the tones fall cleanly, and every exit becomes an invitation for the next hello.