Translation guide
The act of accompanying someone who is leaving, typically to say goodbye at a station, airport, or doorway. Japanese has specific verbs and set phrases for this common social ritual.
I saw him off at the station.
We went to the airport to see her off.
To accompany a departing person to their point of departure and say goodbye there.
The standard verb for seeing someone off. It implies going with them to the station, airport, etc., and watching them leave.
I saw my friend off at the station.
Literally 'go to see off'. Used when the act of going to see someone off is emphasized.
Humble form of 見送る. Used when the person being seen off is a superior, guest, or customer.
I saw the company president off.
To see a visitor or family member to the door and say goodbye as they leave.
To watch someone leave from a window, platform, etc., without physically accompanying them.
Common expressions used when seeing someone off.
見送る (みおくる) specifically means 'to see off', implying you watch the person depart. 送る (おくる) means 'to send' or 'to escort' and can be used for taking someone part of the way, but not necessarily watching them leave. For seeing off at a station, 見送る is more precise.
In Japan, it is common to see guests off at the door or even to the elevator or street. The phrase お見送り (おみおくり) is often used in business settings when seeing clients or superiors off.
It's always sad to see my parents off at the airport.
Tomorrow I'm going to the airport to see my sister off.
Also used for seeing someone off from your home or office entrance.
I saw the guest off at the front door.
Literally 'accompany to the entrance'. A casual way to say you walked someone to the door.
I walked my friend to the door.
Can also mean simply watching someone leave until they are out of sight.
I watched the train until it was out of sight.
To wave goodbye as someone leaves.
She waved me off.
Said to someone leaving the house, meaning 'go and come back safely'. The standard send-off phrase.
"I'm off!" "See you later!"
Means 'take care' or 'be careful'. Often added when seeing someone off.
Take care and have a safe trip.
Said when parting for a long time, meaning 'stay well' or 'take care of yourself'.
Take care, let's meet again.