How to say goodbye in Mandarin: 再见 and all the variants

再见 (zàijiàn) literally means 'see again'. It's the default goodbye. But depending on whether you part for 5 minutes or 5 years, and on formality, Mandarin offers several useful alternatives.

Updated on May 12, 2026

再见

zàijiàn

再见, 拜拜, 回头见 — every way to say goodbye depending on formality and context.

Standard goodbyes

再见 zàijiàn goodbye (standard) (literally "see again")

拜拜 bài bài bye-bye (borrowed from English, very common)

拜 bài bye (short form, among friends)

Depending on when you'll meet again

回头见 huítóu jiàn see you later (when you'll see them later today)

一会儿见 yīhuìr jiàn see you in a moment (in a few minutes)

明天见 míngtiān jiàn see you tomorrow (meeting tomorrow)

下次见 xiàcì jiàn see you next time (no specific date)

后会有期 hòuhuì yǒu qī we'll meet again someday (more literary, for a long separation)

Formal or leaving formulas

我先走了 wǒ xiān zǒu le I'm heading off first (when leaving a meeting before others)

我先告辞了 wǒ xiān gàocí le I take my leave (formal, professional)

失陪了 shīpéi le excuse me for leaving (very polite, formal)

保重 bǎozhòng take care (warm, for a long separation)

Keep learning Mandarin