How to Use Parting Phrases and Expressions

Learn how to use parting phrases and expressions

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Lesson Transcript

Welcome to Can-Do Japanese by JapanesePod101.com.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use parting expressions in Japanese.

For example, "Goodnight" is

おやすみなさい。(Oyasuminasai.)

Megumi Sasaki is talking with her former colleague, Miki Mori.

As Megumi says goodbye, her children join her in saying goodnight.

Before you hear their conversation, let’s preview some of its key components.

じゃ、また

"see you"

じゃ、また (enunciated)

じゃ、また

おやすみなさい

"goodnight"

おやすみなさい (enunciated)

おやすみなさい

またね

"see you later"

またね (enunciated)

またね

Focus on the way each person says goodbye.

じゃ、また。(Ja, mata.)

おやすみなさい。(Oyasuminasai.)

またね。おやすみ。(Mata ne.Oyasumi.)

Once more with the English translation.

じゃ、また。(Ja, mata.)

" See you."

おやすみなさい。(Oyasuminasai.)

"Goodnight."

おやすみなさい。(Oyasuminasai.)

"Goodnight."

またね。おやすみ。(Mata ne. Oyasumi.)

"See you later. Goodnight."

Let's break down each of these expressions.

First do you remember how Megumi says,

“See you.”

じゃ、また。

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。

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, “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。

The expression, じゃ、また, is fairly informal, which indicates a very close relationship between Megumi and her host mother. Otherwise, Megumi would use a more formal alternative.

After this, do you remember how Rin says,

“Goodnight.”

おやすみなさい。

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, 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。

Both Rin and Haruto 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。

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 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。

You may be familiar with the expression, さようなら, “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. 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.

Let's look at the parting greetings once more.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speakers.

じゃ、また。

"See you."

じゃ、また。

おやすみなさい。

"Goodnight."

おやすみなさい。

またね。

"See you later."

またね。

おやすみ。

"Goodnight."

おやすみ。

またね。おやすみ。

"See you later. Goodnight."

またね。おやすみ。

じゃあね。

"See you."

じゃあね。

Did you notice the last parting expression?

じゃあね。

"See you."

じゃあね。"See you. " じゃあね。

The expression じゃあね is commonly used in informal situations.

It’s an abbreviated form of じゃ、またね。where the また is omitted. じゃあね

Pronunciation note: notice extended pronunciation of the vowel at the end of じゃあ.

Listen again: じゃあ. This is a long vowel.

You should be aware of this expression, but for this lesson, you’ll use じゃ、また。

Let's review.

Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the native speakers, focusing on pronunciation.

Ready?

Do you remember how Megumi says,

“See you.”

じゃ、また。

When using polite Japanese, do you remember how to say,

“Goodnight.”

おやすみなさい。

And the informal way to say

“Goodnight.”

おやすみ。

Do you remember how Miki Mori says,

“See you later.”

またね。

Do you remember how Miki Mori says,

“See you later. Goodnight.”

またね。おやすみ。

Let's practice.

Imagine you’re Jun Sasaki, and you’re talking with Miki Mori.

Respond by saying, "Goodnight," using polite Japanese.

Ready?

またね。おやすみ。

おやすみなさい。

Listen again and repeat.

おやすみなさい。

Let’s try another.

Imagine you’re Haruto, and you’re finishing class.

Respond to your friend by saying, "See you later."

Ready?

じゃ、また。

またね。

Listen again and repeat.

またね。

Let’s try one more.

Imagine you’re Rin, and you’re talking on the phone.

Respond by saying "Goodnight" using informal Japanese.

Ready?

おやすみ。

Listen again and repeat.

おやすみ。

In this lesson, you learned how to use basic parting greetings in Japanese. This plays an essential role in the larger skill of using basic greetings. Let’s review.

Do you remember the polite way to say “Good morning?”

おはようございます。

And how to say, “Good afternoon?”

こんにちは。

Do you remember how to say, “Good evening?”

こんばんは。

Imagine you're Rin Sasaki, and you're meeting your friend Hana Hashimoto in the morning, after a short small talk you part your ways.

Do you remember the informal way to say "Good morning?"

おはよう

Respond to your friend Hana greeting you first.

おはよう。

Listen again, and repeat.

おはよう。

And do you remember how to say "see you later?"

またね

Respond to Hana Hashimoto.

じゃ、また！

またね！

Listen again, and repeat.

またね！

Well done! This is the end of the lesson and the Can Use Basic Greetings unit of this course.

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