How do you say "Goodbye" in Chinese?

"Goodbye" in Chinese is 再见。 — written in pinyin as Zàijiàn. It is an everyday phrase you would use in China.

What does 再见。 mean in Chinese?

再见。 (Zàijiàn) means "Goodbye". Broken down word by word: 再 (zài) means "again"; 见 (jiàn) means "to see".

When would you use "Goodbye" in Chinese?

When you leave a shop, a taxi, a restaurant or someone's home — the all-purpose goodbye that works anywhere. Also on the phone before hanging up, and when you part from someone you will not see again soon.

How to say “Goodbye” in Chinese

“Goodbye” in Chinese is 再见。, written in pinyin as Zàijiàn.

再见。

Zàijiàn.

Goodbye.

Word by word

What each part of 再见。 actually means.

再zàiagain
见jiànto see

When you use it

When you leave a shop, a taxi, a restaurant or someone's home — the all-purpose goodbye that works anywhere.
Also on the phone before hanging up, and when you part from someone you will not see again soon.

Use 再见。 in everyday situations. Greetings, thanks and the small words you use all day.

Other ways people say it

The same idea, said differently. Roughly in the order you'll hear them.

拜拜！
Báibái!
Bye!
Borrowed from 'bye-bye' and very common among friends and younger people. Fine in casual settings, a little light for a formal farewell.
回头见。
Huítóu jiàn
See you later.
Literally 'see you when I turn my head'. For people you genuinely expect to meet again.
我先走了。
Wǒ xiān zǒu le
I'll be off first.
The normal way to announce you are leaving a group — a dinner table, an office, a party. It comes before 再见, not instead of it.

What usually trips people up

再见 works when both sides are leaving. To step away for a moment — leaving your table to ask a question — say 我去问一下 (wǒ qù wèn yíxià, "I'll go and ask") and come back.
Do not overuse it. Chinese speakers often leave a shop with a nod, or with 谢谢, and nothing else. 再见 every single time sounds earnest rather than wrong.
拜拜 stays casual. With someone much older, or in a formal setting, use 再见 — it carries none of the playful tone that 拜拜 borrowed from English 'bye-bye'.

What you might hear back

再见，慢走！Zàijiàn, màn zǒu!Goodbye — take care!
拜拜！Báibái!Bye!
路上小心。Lùshang xiǎoxīnBe careful on the road.

Common questions

How do you say "Goodbye" in Chinese?: "Goodbye" in Chinese is 再见。 — written in pinyin as Zàijiàn. It is an everyday phrase you would use in China.
What does 再见。 mean in Chinese?: 再见。 (Zàijiàn) means "Goodbye". Broken down word by word: 再 (zài) means "again"; 见 (jiàn) means "to see".
When would you use "Goodbye" in Chinese?: When you leave a shop, a taxi, a restaurant or someone's home — the all-purpose goodbye that works anywhere. Also on the phone before hanging up, and when you part from someone you will not see again soon.

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