Survival Japanese [13] Useful phrases Greeting Part 6. Good-Bye Beginner's level

We are learning how to say "good bye" in Japanese. Some may know "さようなら。sayounara" means "good bye" but we have more expressions to express "good-bye". In informal occasions, we may often say rather "バイバイ。Bai, bai.　(means "bye-bye.")" or "じゃぁね。jah ne". We often use "さようなら。sayounara" when saying good-bye to like teashers, boss, or other older people than ourselves; because, like in other countries, we follow a hierarchy. Thus, in order to keep good relashionships, we need to use appropriate expressions accordingly.

 

Dialog 1 at meeting.

[Roma-ji, Japanese, meaning]

A: ... Jah, souiukotode, mata ashita.

    ...じゃぁ、そういうことで、また 明日。

　　... so, that's all for now. See you tomorrow.

B: Eh, mata asu ni shimashou. Onaji jikande ii desuka?

   えぇ、また 明日 に しましょう。　　　　    同じ 時間で いい ですか？

   Okay, let's keep doing (working for) it tomorrow. Is it comfortable for you to meet at the same time?

A: hai, sanji ni mata aimashou.

　　はい、三時にまた会いましょう。

   Yes, let's meet at three again.

B: Wakari mashita. soredewa, mata. Shiturei shimasu.

　　わかりました。　　　　それでは、また。　　失礼します。

   Right. See you tomorrow. Good bye (or I'm leaving).

A: Shitsurei simasu.                           Sayounara.

　　失礼します。　　　　　　                       さようなら。

   Good bye (or I'm leaving).          (Good bye.)

Dialog 2 with close friends

[Roma-ji]

A: Jahne. Mata.

　　じゃぁね。また。

   See you again.

B: un, matane, bai bai.

　　うん、またね、バイバイ。

  Yep, see you. Bye.

 

Here is the summary.

Mata ashita.　また明日。

Mata asuni shimashou.　また 明日に　しましょう。

Mata aimashou.　また　会いましょう。

Soredewa mata.　それでは　また。

Mata.　また。

Matane.　またね。

 

So what is the "また、mata"? It actually means "again" or "next time". But we intended to use it as "see you next time." Adding "...ね。...ne." changes the meaning more intense or makes the expression friendlier or softer.

 

The noun "明日" has two ways to be pronounced: "Asu" and "ashita" which means "tomorrow". "Ahista" is more often used as an informal expression.

 

The "(し)ましょう。(shi)mashou." in the end of the sentence means "let's do something." The original form of "To do" in Japanese is "...する。...suru". It changes "shi" when going with "mashou."

 

Here is the other examples

Let's meet = ai mashou. (meet: au >> ai) "u" sound changes into "i" sound

Let's go = iki mashou. (go: iku >> iki)

Let's eat = tabe mashou. (eat: taberu >> tabe) Drop "ru" sound

Let's sleep = ne mashou. (sleep: neru >> ne)

 

We learned "失礼します。Shitsurei shimasu" in the previous discussion. This is an expression for leaving a room or place and alternatively used as "good bye". However, we may more often use other expressions than "さようなら。sayounara" in the real life because we usually want to keep in touch each other. Between good friends, we tend to use informal expressions like "じゃあね。Jahne." "またね。Matane." and ”バイバイ。Bai bai."

 

learning in sounds

Goaisatsu no uta.

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Sayonara no natsu

Again, you do not need to understand all of the lyrics but catch the "sayo(u)nara" in this song. How many "sayonara" can you catch? This is beautiful merody. I hope you like it.

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Review quiz

Choose formal expressions.

1. Shitsurei shimasu. 失礼します。

2. Matane.　またね。

3. Mata asu ni shimashou.　また　明日に　しましょう。

4. Jahne.　じゃぁね。

5. Sayounara.　さようなら。

6. Oyasumi nasai. おやすみなさい。

7. Bai Bai. バイバイ。

The answer will be posted on Wednesday.

Questions? Correction? Comments? Requests? Typos?

Thanks.