In this post, I’m going to teach you 8 ways of saying Goodbye in Chinese. Read on to learn more!

1. 再见 Zàijiàn

Means See you again. Zai means again, Jian means meet. It’s a semi-formal way of saying Goodbye in Chinese.

2. 拜拜 bài bài

Similar to Hā lóu in greetings, bài bài was translated from English originally, but now it is actually a common Chinese phrase, a casual way of saying Goodbye with your friends.

3. 一会儿见 Yīhuǐ’er jiàn

We learnt from Zai Jian that Zai means again, Yihuir means a little while, so Yi Huir Jian means see you in a little while.

4. 回头见 Huítóu jiàn

See you around. Hui Tou literally means turn the head around, so I’ll see when I turn my head around, it’s a fun and casual way of saying bye to someone, it also shows a person’s desire to meet again very soon. 

5. 下次见 Xià cì jiàn

See you next time. Xia Ci means next time, Xia Ci Jian also indidates the speaker has the intention of meeting again. Just like English, when you say goodbye to someone, your words could hint that either you want to meet up again, or you just simply want to say goodbye.

6. 明天见 Míngtiān jiàn

See you tomorrow. Ming Tian means tomorrow, Ming Tian Jian, see you tomorrow. Oftentimes when we say Goodbye to someone, we don’t know whether or when exactly we are gonna meet that person again, so we say Zai Jian, Xiaci Jian, 拜拜 etc. 

But if you know exactly when the next time will be, in this case, tomorrow, then you can say, see you tomorrow, Míngtiān jiàn.

7. 失陪 Shīpéi

Shi Pei, excuse me, but I have to leave now. Shi means the Lack of, Loss of, Pei means accompany. So Shi Pei in Chinese contains a meaning that, I’m sorry but I can’t accompany you right now.

This is a formal phrase you use when you are the one that initiates Goodbye, and it’s a bit sudden and out of surprise, and it contains a little guilt emotionally. 

For example, when you’re with someone, or with a group of people, but you suddenly have an emergency you have to attend, and you have to leave right away, you can say, Shīpéi. 

8. 告辞 Gàocí

This is also a formal way of saying Goodbye. Gào means announcing, saying, Cí means leaving. 

It is also often used when you are the one who initiates the Goodbye. Different from Shīpéi, Gàocí is more of just announcing that you are leaving, but this phrase doesn’t contain any guilt like the phrase Shi Pei does.

A Recap

Now you’ve learnt 8 ways of saying Goodbye in Chinese, let’s do a quick recap:

  • 再见 Zàijiàn See you again
  • 拜拜 bài bài Goodbye 
  • 一会儿见 Yīhuǐ’er jiàn  See you in a while 
  • 回头见 Huítóu jiàn nǐ See you around 
  • 下次见 Xià cì jiàn  See you next time 
  • 明天见 Míngtiān jiàn See you tomorrow  
  • 失陪 Shīpéi Excuse me I have to leave 
  • 告辞 Gàocí I’m leaving  

Remember to use them in different situations and show off how wonderful your Chinese is!