Don't Simply Say 'Sayonara' To Someone 'Cause The Meaning Isn't Just Goodbye
TIL.
By Tamara Jayne — 17 Nov 2023, 04:44 PM
You've probably tossed around the common Japanese term 'sayonara' to casually bid farewell to friends.
However, what you may not realise is that Japanese people rarely use the word, and there's a reason behind it.
While 'sayonara' in Japanese does translate to 'goodbye', it's not a term casually used in everyday situations like when leaving home or a place.
What it truly means is 'Goodbye forever' or 'Goodbye, I don't know when I will see you again' — which explains why locals don't commonly use this phrase
According to Live Japan Perfect Guide, 'sayonara' is a formal term better used for break-ups or in situations where you don't intend to meet with the person again.
It may even be used in cases where you can't see that person anymore, like a loved one who has passed away.
So, what should you say instead of 'sayonara'?
You can say 'mata ne' or 'ja ne' , which loosely translates to 'see you again', when you want to say goodbye to someone casually.
You can also say 'mata zehi', meaning 'Let's meet up again,' or you can simply say 'bai bai', pronounced like the English 'bye-bye'.
Watch this short clip which further explains it:
