再见
Traditional: 再見
zài jiàn HSK 1

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

再见!
Zàijiàn!
Goodbye!
他说再见。
Tā shuō zàijiàn.
He says goodbye.
我们再见。
Wǒmen zàijiàn.
We say goodbye.
我们在火车站道别了。
Wǒmen zài huǒchē zhàn dàobié le.
We said goodbye at the train station.
她挥手说了“再见”。
Tā huīshǒu shuō le “zàijiàn”.
She waved and said "see you later."

💡 Memory Tip

Break it down: 再 (zài) means 'again' and 见 (jiàn) means 'to see'. So, 再见 literally promises 'see you again', which is the essence of a hopeful goodbye.

📝 Usage Notes

It is a versatile and neutral term suitable for both formal and informal situations, and for both spoken and written language. It is the most common and universally understood way to say goodbye in Chinese, used when leaving friends, family, colleagues, or even in service encounters.

📖 Grammar Points

It is primarily used as a verb, often in the structure '和/跟 + [Person] + 说再见' (to say goodbye to someone). It can also stand alone as a complete utterance.

🏯 Cultural Notes

While direct and common, it carries a polite and slightly warm connotation. In very casual settings among young people, 拜拜 is often used. Waving while saying 再见 is a typical accompanying gesture.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 拜拜 (báibái, a casual loanword from 'bye-bye'), 再见 is more standard and can be used in slightly more formal contexts. Unlike 永别 (yǒngbié, 'farewell forever'), 再见 implies a temporary separation.

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