| Let's take a closer look at each of these expressions. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | First do you remember how Karen says, | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | "See you." | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | じゃ、また。(Ja, mata.) | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | This starts with the interjection, じゃ, translating as "well," in this context. じゃ.(enunciated)  じゃ. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | It's similar to the word "well" in English when it's used to express a pause in conversation or thought. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | The second part is また, "again." ま-た. また. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | All together, じゃ、また literally means "Well, again," but it translates as "See you again." | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | じゃ、また。(Ja, mata.) | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | This phrase is an abbreviated form of じゃ、また あいましょう。"Well, let's meet again. " じゃ、また あいましょう。 | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | あいましょう (aimashō), "let's meet." あいましょう. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | あいましょう is omitted from this expression, but it's understood. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | あいましょう is from the verb あう meaning, "to meet." あう (au)。 | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | The expression, じゃ、また, is fairly informal, which indicates a very close relationship between Karen and her host mother. Otherwise, Karen would use a more formal alternative. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | After this, do you remember how Sasha says, | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | "Goodnight." | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | おやすみなさい。(Oyasuminasai.) | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | おやすみなさい. is a set phrase meaning, "goodnight." おやすみなさい. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | The first part is お, an honorific prefix. お. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | It's used to show politeness. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | Next is やすみ, "rest." や-す-み.  やすみ. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | It's from the verb やすむ yasumu, meaning "to rest." やすむ. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | The last part is なさい, meaning "please do." な-さ-い. なさい. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | Together, やすみなさい is a command meaning, "Take a rest." やすみなさい。 | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | All together, おやすみなさい literally means "please have a [good] rest," but it translates as, "Goodnight." | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | おやすみなさい。(Oyasuminasai.) | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | Both Sasha and Ben use this polite expression when saying goodnight to Miki Mori. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | Note, there is an informal form of おやすみなさい。 | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | おやすみ. "Goodnight." おやすみ. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | Miki Mori uses this to say goodbye to everyone. おやすみ. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | She's the oldest person in the conversation, so she has a lot of freedom to use informal language. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | Do you remember how Miki Mori says, | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | "See you later. Goodnight." | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | またね。おやすみ。(Mata ne. Oyasumi.) | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | First is またね。"See you later." ま-た-ね. またね。 | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | There are two parts to this expression. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | First is また, meaning "again." また. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | Next is ね, a sentence-ending particle used to seek confirmation about something or build a consensus. Here it means something like, "Right?" ね | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | Together, またね。  means something like, "Again, right?" but it translates as "See you later." またね。 | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | またね。 is an abbreviated form of また あいましょうね。Let's meet again, right? また あいましょうね。 | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | Next is おやすみ。Goodnight. おやすみ。 | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | The informal form of  おやすみなさい。"Goodnight." おやすみなさい。 | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | All together, またね。おやすみ。"See you later. Goodnight." | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | またね。おやすみ。(Mata ne. Oyasumi.) | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | You may be familiar with the expression, さようなら。 (Sayōnara.), "Farewell." さようなら。 | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | It's fairly common to hear it in foreign movies or dramas that involve Japan or Japanese people. Despite this, it's not so frequently used in daily life. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | There is another parting expression you may have come in contact with: | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | バイバイ。 (Baibai.). Bye-bye.  バイバイ。 | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | Borrowed from the English language, it's an informal expression which is basically used between kids and young people or when you talk to kids. | 
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                            | The parting expression you choose will depend on many factors, such as your relationship with the person or people you're talking with. | 
                                                                    
                                                        
                     
Comments
Hide