Say it in Chinese
How to say goodbye in Chinese
Updated
Goodbye in Chinese is 再见. In everyday life you hear 拜拜 (bye-bye) just as often. When you leave a shop, the owner usually says 慢走 (take care).
The phrase
What it means
再见 means “goodbye”. 再 is “again” and 见 is “see”, so it is close to “see you again”. You can say it to anyone, at any time of day.
拜拜 comes from the English “bye-bye”. It is more casual, and very common. Both are polite enough for shops and strangers.
How to say it
Say zài jiàn. Both syllables fall from high to low. Keep them short and firm.
The game writes 拜拜 as bái bai: the first syllable rises and the second is short and soft. That is how most people say it. Other places may write bāi bai or bài bai, because people say it in different ways.
The pinyin shows how people really say it, the same as in the game.
When to use it
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Leaving a shop or stall
After you pay and take your things, say 再见 or 拜拜 to the owner. They often answer 慢走 and ask you to come back.
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Saying goodbye to someone you met
If you talked with someone in a park, on a train or at a shared table, 再见 is the polite way to end it.
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When you will meet again
For “see you tomorrow”, put 明天 (tomorrow) in place of 再: 明天见 (see you tomorrow).
Other ways to say it
Other goodbyes from the game.
- 拜拜！ (bái bai!) Bye-bye!
The casual goodbye, from English. Shop assistants, friends and young people say it all the time.
- 明天见！ (míng tiān jiàn!) See you tomorrow!
Use it when you will meet the person again the next day.
- 谢谢，再见！ (xiè xie, zài jiàn!) Thanks, goodbye!
A good way to leave after someone has helped you or served you.
- 我要回酒店了。 (wǒ yào huí jiǔ diàn le.) I'm going back to the hotel.
Say it before you say goodbye, so the other person knows you are leaving.
What people say back
- 再见！ (zài jiàn!) Goodbye!
You leave a small shop after paying.
They may say 慢走！ (màn zǒu!) Take care! (Word for word “walk slowly”. Shopkeepers say it to customers who are leaving. You do not need to answer. A nod or 再见 is nice.) - 再见！ (zài jiàn!) Goodbye!
You leave a breakfast stall in the morning.
They may say 慢走啊，明天再来！ (màn zǒu a, míng tiān zài lái!) Take care, come again tomorrow! (A friendly habit. Nobody expects you to come back.) - 拜拜！ (bái bai!) Bye-bye!
You leave a tea shop in a mall.
They may say 拜拜，下次再来呀！ (bái bai, xià cì zài lái ya!) Bye-bye, come again next time! - 再见！ (zài jiàn!) Goodbye!
You say goodbye to a child you met.
They may say 再见！ (zài jiàn!) Goodbye!
Common mistakes
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Saying “take care” back
慢走 is said by the person who stays to the person who leaves. Saying it back sounds odd. Answer 再见, 拜拜 or 谢谢 (thanks).
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Leaving without a word
In a small shop or at a family meal, walking off without a goodbye can feel abrupt. A short 再见 at the door is enough.
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Thinking “bye-bye” is rude
拜拜 is fine for shops, drivers and neighbours. Staff say it to customers every day.
Where it comes up in the game
The breakfast stall
After breakfast an auntie from the stall comes over. She tells you the mall nearby is fun and says 拜拜. You answer 再见 and head off.
The metro platform
The girl who asked for a photo with you says 再见 when she runs off. You say it back.
Shops, drivers and an evening dance
Shopkeepers, drivers and the dancers in the square say 慢走 as you leave. At the dance you say 我要回酒店了 (I’m going back to the hotel) when you want to go.
Questions
How do you say goodbye in Chinese?
Goodbye in Chinese is 再见. 再 means “again” and 见 means “see”. In casual speech people also say 拜拜, from the English “bye-bye”.
What does 慢走 mean?
慢走 means “take care” when someone leaves. Word for word it is “walk slowly”. Shopkeepers, hosts and drivers say it to the person who is leaving. You do not say it back. Answer 再见 or 谢谢.
Is 拜拜 a real Chinese word?
拜拜 is a real Chinese word. It comes from the English “bye-bye”. People of all ages use it every day in mainland China, in shops and with friends.
How do you say see you tomorrow in Chinese?
See you tomorrow in Chinese is 明天见. 明天 means “tomorrow” and 见 means “see”.
How do you pronounce 再见?
Say zài jiàn. Both syllables fall sharply from high to low, and neither one changes.
Why do shopkeepers say “come again tomorrow” in Chinese?
明天再来 (come again tomorrow) is a friendly way for stall owners and small shops to say goodbye. You do not need to come back.