Goodbye in Chinese (再見

再見 zàijiàn means “goodbye” in Traditional Chinese. It is one of the first words many learners pick up, because, frankly, ending a conversation without it can feel a little like just walking out of a room and forgetting your shoes.

For the broader learning path, visit our parent guide.

In Taiwan, 再見 is polite, common, and safe in most everyday situations. You can use it with friends, classmates, shop staff, teachers, and strangers. If you want a fuller farewell toolkit, this lesson will also show you the softer, more casual, and more natural ways people actually say goodbye in real life.

By the end, you’ll know when to use 再見, when to choose something more natural, and how to avoid sounding like you learned Mandarin from a tiny robot with a dictionary.

Table of Contents

What 再見 Means

再見 zàijiàn literally means “see you again.” The idea is simple: we are parting now, but maybe we will meet again later. That makes it a friendly, balanced farewell. It is not overly formal, not overly casual, and not dramatic unless you say it like you are in a soap opera.

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	English Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
再見	zàijiàn	goodbye; see you again	我們下次再見。	Wǒmen xià cì zàijiàn.	We’ll see each other next time.
再見	zàijiàn	goodbye; see you again	老師，謝謝您，再見。	Lǎoshī, xièxie nín, zàijiàn.	Teacher, thank you, goodbye.

How To Use It Naturally

In real conversation, 再見 is often used when the goodbye is clear and complete. For example, after finishing class, leaving an office, or ending a phone call. It works well in polite everyday life, which is very useful because life is full of polite everyday life.

That said, Mandarin speakers in Taiwan often use other endings too, especially more casual ones like 掰掰 bāibāi or 明天見 míngtiān jiàn. So if you only use 再見, you will still be understood. But learning the alternatives helps you sound more natural.

再見 is safe, polite, and useful. If you forget everything else, this word will still save you from awkward silence.

Useful Goodbye Phrases

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	English Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
再見	zàijiàn	goodbye	好，我先走了，再見。	Hǎo, wǒ xiān zǒu le, zàijiàn.	Okay, I’m leaving first, goodbye.
拜拜	bāibāi	bye-bye; casual goodbye	我去搭捷運了，拜拜！	Wǒ qù dā jiéyùn le, bāibāi!	I’m going to take the MRT, bye-bye!
掰掰	bāibāi	casual bye-bye, common in Taiwan	那我先回家，掰掰。	Nà wǒ xiān huí jiā, bāibāi.	Then I’ll head home first, bye-bye.
明天見	míngtiān jiàn	see you tomorrow	今天辛苦了，明天見。	Jīntiān xīnkǔ le, míngtiān jiàn.	You worked hard today, see you tomorrow.
待會兒見	dāihuǐr jiàn	see you later	我去買飲料，待會兒見。	Wǒ qù mǎi yǐnliào, dāihuǐr jiàn.	I’m going to buy a drink, see you later.
下次見	xià cì jiàn	see you next time	很高興認識你，下次見。	Hěn gāoxìng rènshì nǐ, xià cì jiàn.	Nice to meet you, see you next time.
先走了	xiān zǒu le	I’m leaving first	時間到了，我先走了。	Shíjiān dào le, wǒ xiān zǒu le.	It’s time, I’m leaving first.
我先走了	wǒ xiān zǒu le	I’m leaving first	各位，再聊，我先走了。	Gèwèi, zài liáo, wǒ xiān zǒu le.	Everyone, chat later, I’m leaving first.
改天見	gǎitiān jiàn	see you another day	改天有空再約，改天見。	Gǎitiān yǒu kòng zài yuē, gǎitiān jiàn.	Let’s make plans another day, see you another day.
路上小心	lù shàng xiǎoxīn	be careful on the way	你慢慢走，路上小心。	Nǐ mànmàn zǒu, lù shàng xiǎoxīn.	Walk slowly, be careful on the way.
保重	bǎozhòng	take care; stay well	天氣變冷了，請多保重。	Tiānqì biàn lěng le, qǐng duō bǎozhòng.	The weather is getting cold, please take care.
晚安	wǎn’ān	good night	我累了，先睡了，晚安。	Wǒ lèi le, xiān shuì le, wǎn’ān.	I’m tired, I’m going to sleep first, good night.

Everyday Goodbye Examples

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	English Meaning
我先走了，再見。	Wǒ xiān zǒu le, zàijiàn.	I’m leaving first, goodbye.
今天先這樣，明天見。	Jīntiān xiān zhèyàng, míngtiān jiàn.	That’s all for today, see you tomorrow.
謝謝你的幫忙，再見。	Xièxie nǐ de bāngmáng, zàijiàn.	Thank you for your help, goodbye.
我到家了，掰掰。	Wǒ dào jiā le, bāibāi.	I got home, bye-bye.
你先去吧，我待會兒再跟你聯絡。	Nǐ xiān qù ba, wǒ dāihuǐr zài gēn nǐ liánluò.	You go ahead first, I’ll contact you later.
那我們下次再聊。	Nà wǒmen xià cì zài liáo.	Then we’ll talk next time.
路上小心，再見。	Lù shàng xiǎoxīn, zàijiàn.	Be careful on the way, goodbye.
下班了，大家辛苦了。	Xià bān le, dàjiā xīnkǔ le.	Work is over, everyone worked hard.
我先掛電話了，再見。	Wǒ xiān guà diànhuà le, zàijiàn.	I’ll hang up first, goodbye.
晚安，明天見。	Wǎn’ān, míngtiān jiàn.	Good night, see you tomorrow.

Tone And Pronunciation Notes

再見 is pronounced zài in the fourth tone and jiàn in the fourth tone. Both syllables fall sharply. Do not flatten it into “zay-jyen” in a lazy English way. Mandarin enjoys making you move your mouth more than expected. How rude.

Also, the word is usually said as one unit: zàijiàn. In fast speech, it can sound smooth and quick. In careful speech, it is still the same word, just a bit clearer.

Word	Pinyin	Note	Example
再見	zàijiàn	Two fourth tones	再見！
拜拜	bāibāi	Casual, repeated syllables	拜拜！
掰掰	bāibāi	Taiwan-friendly casual farewell	掰掰！

Taiwan Usage: What Sounds Natural

In Taiwan, 掰掰 bāibāi is very common in casual speech. You will hear it a lot among friends, family members, and younger speakers. 再見 still works everywhere, but it can sound a little more standard or neutral depending on the situation.

When leaving a store, office, or class, people may also say things like 謝謝 xièxie, 辛苦了 xīnkǔ le, or 路上小心 lù shàng xiǎoxīn. These are not exact replacements for goodbye, but they often go with it. In Taiwan, farewells are often wrapped in a little politeness package. Very civilized. Very efficient.

If you want to sound natural in Taiwan, sometimes the best goodbye is not just “goodbye” — it is “goodbye + care + thanks.”

Useful Particles In Goodbye Sentences

Particle	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
了	le	marks a change or completed action	我先走了。	Wǒ xiān zǒu le.	I’m leaving now.
吧	ba	softens a suggestion or tone	我們先走吧。	Wǒmen xiān zǒu ba.	Let’s leave first.
呢	ne	keeps the tone open or continuing	你呢？	Nǐ ne?	And you?
啊	a	adds warmth or emphasis	再見啊！	Zàijiàn a!	Bye now!
也	yě	also	你也早點休息。	Nǐ yě zǎodiǎn xiūxi.	You also rest early.

One very useful pattern is 我先……了 wǒ xiān… le, meaning “I’ll go ahead and…” It is polite and practical when leaving before others. If you say 我先走了, you are not being rude. You are being normal, which is a nice change for language learners.

Patterns You Will Hear All The Time

Pattern	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Pinyin	English
再見	goodbye	再見！	Zàijiàn!	Goodbye!
再見 + 了	casual goodbye with change/completion feeling	好，我們再見了。	Hǎo, wǒmen zàijiàn le.	Okay, goodbye then.
先走了	I’m leaving first	我先走了。	Wǒ xiān zǒu le.	I’m leaving first.
下次見	see you next time	下次見。	Xià cì jiàn.	See you next time.
待會兒見	see you later	待會兒見。	Dāihuǐr jiàn.	See you later.
路上小心	be careful on the way	路上小心。	Lù shàng xiǎoxīn.	Be careful on the way.

Common Mistakes And Easy Fixes

Common Mistake	Why It’s A Problem	Better Version
Using only 再見 in every situation	It is correct, but sometimes too plain for close friends	Use 掰掰 or 待會兒見 when appropriate
Mixing up 再見 and 明天見	They are not the same time frame	明天見 means “see you tomorrow”
Leaving without any farewell	Can feel abrupt	Say 我先走了 or 再見
Pronouncing 再見 with flat English-style intonation	It sounds unnatural	Use the fourth tone on both syllables: zàijiàn
Thinking 拜拜 is the same everywhere	It is casual and more common in Taiwan speech than in formal settings	Use 再見 in polite or neutral situations

A tiny but important note: if someone says 再見, you can answer with 再見, 拜拜, or even just a smile and a wave in casual settings. Language is generous like that. The trick is matching the level of formality.

Practice: Swap The Goodbye

Try replacing the goodbye with the most natural option for each situation. No peeking. Yes, even if your brain is already trying to escape.

Situation	Best Goodbye	Why
You are leaving class and will see the teacher next week	老師，再見。	Polite and safe
You are texting a friend at night	晚安，掰掰。	Casual and warm
You are leaving a coffee shop and the staff were kind	謝謝，掰掰。	Natural in Taiwan
You will meet your friend tomorrow morning	明天見。	Clear time reference
You are leaving the office before coworkers	我先走了，再見。	Polite and practical
You are saying goodbye after a short chat	下次見。	Friendly and flexible

Quick Comparison: Which Goodbye Should You Use?

Expression	Style	Best Use
再見	neutral, polite	General situations, school, work, shops
拜拜	casual	Friends, family, relaxed conversations
掰掰	casual, Taiwan-friendly	Everyday goodbye, especially spoken language
明天見	specific	When you will see the person tomorrow
下次見	friendly	When the next meeting is not exact
晚安	nighttime	Before sleep or late-night parting

If you want a broader set of everyday phrases, the essential Traditional Chinese phrases guide is a good next stop. If you want to hear more natural spoken language in context, the conversational Traditional Chinese guide will keep the learning going without making it feel like a grammar museum.

For official-style vocabulary study, you can also use the Traditional Chinese vocabulary test or check your level with the Traditional Chinese placement test (TOCFL). For a dry but reliable reference, the word goodbye has a perfectly boring explanation too.

Mini Dialogue

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	English
A：我先走了，再見。	A: Wǒ xiān zǒu le, zàijiàn.	A: I’m leaving first, goodbye.
B：好，路上小心，掰掰。	B: Hǎo, lù shàng xiǎoxīn, bāibāi.	B: Okay, be careful on the way, bye-bye.
A：明天見。	A: Míngtiān jiàn.	A: See you tomorrow.
B：明天見。	B: Míngtiān jiàn.	B: See you tomorrow.

Quick Reference Summary

再見 zàijiàn = goodbye; see you again
掰掰 bāibāi = casual “bye-bye,” very common in Taiwan
明天見 míngtiān jiàn = see you tomorrow
下次見 xià cì jiàn = see you next time
待會兒見 dāihuǐr jiàn = see you later
我先走了 wǒ xiān zǒu le = I’m leaving first
路上小心 lù shàng xiǎoxīn = be careful on the way
晚安 wǎn’ān = good night

Yak takeaway: 再見 is your reliable all-purpose goodbye, 掰掰 is the casual Taiwan-friendly buddy, and the real magic comes from matching the situation. Say the right farewell, and suddenly your Mandarin sounds a lot less like a textbook and a lot more like a person.