Goodbye in Chinese: 再见 and 9 Other Ways to Say Bye

沉浸 TeamAugust 6, 20264 min read

The most common way to say goodbye in Chinese is 再见 (zàijiàn). It literally means "see again," so it's closer to "see you" than a final farewell. If you only learn one way to say bye, learn this one.

That said, native speakers use a whole family of goodbyes depending on who's leaving, how casual the moment is, and when they'll meet again. This post walks through the ones you'll hear most, and it's part of our essential Chinese phrases guide if you want the full beginner set.

How do you say bye in Chinese?

For a quick, casual "bye," most people just say 拜拜 (báibái). It comes straight from the English "bye-bye," and it's everywhere: friends, coworkers, phone calls, texts.

Don't let the English origin fool you into thinking it sounds childish. In everyday Mandarin, 拜拜 is often more common than 再见, especially among younger speakers. 再见 can feel a touch formal between close friends.

The 见 pattern: see you tomorrow, see you later

Here's a trick that gets you five goodbyes for the price of one. The character 见 (jiàn) means "to see" or "to meet." Put a time word in front of it and you've built a natural goodbye:

明天见 (míngtiān jiàn): see you tomorrow. Great with classmates and coworkers.
回头见 (huítóu jiàn): see you later, usually later the same day.
下次见 (xiàcì jiàn): see you next time. Friendly and open-ended.
一会儿见 (yíhuìr jiàn): see you in a bit. For very short gaps, like stepping out for lunch.

Once you know the pattern, you can plug in almost any time: 周末见 (zhōumò jiàn, see you this weekend), 北京见 (Běijīng jiàn, see you in Beijing). It always works.

Announcing that you're leaving: 我先走了

In Chinese, it's polite to announce your exit instead of just saying bye and walking off. The standard line is 我先走了 (wǒ xiān zǒu le), "I'm heading out first."

The word 先 (xiān, "first") softens it. You're saying "I'm leaving before the rest of you, carry on." You'll hear this constantly at dinners, gatherings, and the office, usually followed by 拜拜 or 再见.

Goodbyes said to the person leaving

Some goodbyes go the other direction: they're said to the person walking out the door.

慢走 (mànzǒu): literally "walk slowly." Hosts, shopkeepers, and restaurant staff say this to departing guests. It means "take it easy, get home safe," not an instruction to slow down. You don't need to reply with anything more than a smile or a 谢谢.
保重 (bǎozhòng): take care. This one carries weight. Use it when someone's sick, going through a hard time, or leaving for a long while, not for everyday partings.

Saying goodnight

If you're parting ways at night, or ending a late text conversation, use 晚安 (wǎn'ān), "goodnight." It works for family, friends, and couples alike. Between people who are dating, a nightly 晚安 text is a small ritual of its own.

Which goodbye should you use?

When in doubt, keep it simple:

Safe anywhere: 再见 (zàijiàn).
Casual and friendly: 拜拜 (báibái).
You know when you'll meet again: a 见 phrase like 明天见.
You're the one leaving a group: 我先走了 (wǒ xiān zǒu le), then 拜拜.

Frequently asked questions

What does zaijian mean in Chinese?

再见 (zàijiàn) means "goodbye." Character by character, 再 (zài) means "again" and 见 (jiàn) means "to see," so it's literally "see (you) again."

Is it rude to say 拜拜 in Chinese?

Not at all. 拜拜 (báibái) is casual but completely normal, even between adults. For formal situations, like a business meeting or speaking with someone much older, 再见 is the safer pick.

How do you say "see you tomorrow" in Mandarin?

明天见 (míngtiān jiàn). 明天 means "tomorrow" and 见 means "to see." The same pattern works with other time words: 下次见 (see you next time), 回头见 (see you later).

What does 慢走 mean when leaving a shop?

慢走 (mànzǒu) literally says "walk slowly," but it's a polite send-off meaning "take care on your way." Staff say it to customers; you're not expected to say it back.

Want to hear these goodbyes spoken aloud? Create a free Chenjin account to tap any word for native audio, save it as a flashcard, and start reading your first graded reader in Chinese.