Speaking • Greetings & Farewells
Learn Speaking Mandarin Chinese: Saying Goodbye & Farewell in Chinese
Closing a conversation well is just as important as opening it. Mandarin has a rich range of farewell expressions — from the everyday 再见 to the warm 保重 (take care), the uniquely Chinese 慢走 (walk slowly), and the heartfelt 一路平安 (safe travels). Each phrase carries its own social weight and timing.
Saying Goodbye
| 汉字 Chinese | 拼音 Pīnyīn | English |
|---|---|---|
再见 | zàijiàn | Goodbye (standard — lit. 'see you again') |
拜拜 | bàibai | Bye-bye (casual, borrowed from English) |
再会 | zài huì | Farewell / Until we meet again (more formal) |
明天见 | míngtiān jiàn | See you tomorrow |
周末见 | zhōumò jiàn | See you this weekend |
下次见 | xià cì jiàn | See you next time |
待会见 | dāihuìr jiàn | See you in a bit (very soon) |
回头见 | huítóu jiàn | See you later (colloquial) |
Take Care & Safe Travels
| 汉字 Chinese | 拼音 Pīnyīn | English |
|---|---|---|
保重 | bǎozhòng | Take care / Look after yourself |
慢走 | màn zǒu | Goodbye (lit. 'walk slowly' — said by host to departing guest) |
好走 | hǎo zǒu | Safe travels / Go well |
一路平安 | yīlù píng'ān | Have a safe journey / Safe travels |
Cultural Notes
慢走 (màn zǒu — walk slowly) is said by a host to a departing guest. It is a wish that they take their time and not rush — a sign of warmth and hospitality. Guests do not say 慢走 to hosts; they would say 再见 or 保重.
再见 is the standard, neutral goodbye suitable for all situations. 拜拜 (from English 'bye-bye') is casual and friendly — common among young people and in informal settings. Using 拜拜 with an elder or in a formal business context would sound too casual.
一路平安 (yīlù píng'ān — one road, peace) is specifically used when someone is departing for a trip. It is the warm equivalent of 'have a safe journey'. You would not use it when someone is just heading home locally.
Many farewell phrases use 见 (jiàn — to see/meet) combined with a time word: 明天见 (see you tomorrow), 周末见 (see you this weekend), 下次见 (see you next time). You can build your own by combining 见 with almost any time expression.