Translation guide
A common parting phrase in English. In Japanese, the equivalent depends on the relationship, formality, and whether you will meet again soon. Direct translations exist, but natural usage often involves set expressions or omission.
Saying goodbye to someone you will see again soon in an informal setting.
Very common casual goodbye. Implies you'll see each other again, but not necessarily later the same day. Can be shortened to じゃね or じゃあ.
じゃあね、また明日。
See you later, see you tomorrow.
Literally 'again, right?'. Very common casual goodbye, similar to 'see you'. Often combined with じゃあ: じゃあ、またね。
またね、気をつけて。
See you later, take care.
Loanword from English 'bye-bye'. Used casually, especially among younger people or with children. Can sound childish if overused by adults.
バイバイ、また遊ぼうね。
Bye-bye, let's play again.
Literally 'well then, again later'. Used when you expect to see the person later the same day. More specific than じゃあね.
じゃ、また後で。会議で会おう。
See you later. Let's meet at the meeting.
Saying goodbye in a polite but not overly formal way, implying you'll meet again.
Polite version of じゃあ、また. Suitable for coworkers or acquaintances. Can be made more formal with では、また後日 (では、またごじつ) for 'see you another day'.
では、また。良い週末を。
See you later. Have a good weekend.
Literally 'I'm being rude (by leaving)'. Standard phrase when leaving work before others, or leaving a meeting. Implies you'll see them again. Not a direct translation but fulfills the same function.
お先に失礼します。
I'll be leaving now (see you later).
Polite way to say 'see you later' when you will meet again the same day, e.g., in a business setting. 後ほど is more formal than 後で.
では、また後ほど。
Well then, see you later.
Expressing 'see you later' in a highly formal context, often in writing.
Literally 'another day'. Used in formal letters or emails to indicate you'll meet again. Often preceded by では.
では、また後日お会いしましょう。
Well then, let's meet again another day.
Saying goodbye when the next meeting is uncertain or far in the future.
Literally 'again someday'. Used when you don't know when you'll meet again. Casual.
じゃあ、またいつか。元気でね。
See you later, take care.
Literally 'until the day we meet again'. Poetic and somewhat dramatic. Used in emotional farewells.
また会う日まで、お元気で。
Until we meet again, take care.
Directly translating 'see you later' as 後で会おう or 後で見る sounds unnatural. Japanese uses set phrases like またね or じゃあね instead.
後で会おう
Let's meet later (not a casual goodbye)
Both are casual and interchangeable. じゃあね comes from では (well then), while またね emphasizes 'again'. Often combined: じゃあ、またね。
In Japan, goodbyes often involve multiple bows and phrases. It's common to say じゃあね or 失礼します while bowing, then wave and say it again as you walk away.