How do you say zai jian in Cantonese?

再見 is read zoi3 gin3 in Cantonese, but the everyday goodbye in Hong Kong is 拜拜 (baai1 baai3), from English bye-bye. 再見 is correct and a little more formal.

Is 再見 used in Cantonese?

Yes. 再見 (zoi3 gin3) is understood everywhere and used in polite or formal settings and with people you do not know well. Between friends and family, 拜拜 or plain bye is far more usual.

How do you say good night in Cantonese?

早唞 (zou2 tau2), literally rest early, is the bedtime goodbye to family and friends. 晚安 (maan5 on1) also exists but sounds more formal.

← Cantonese Dictionary

How to say zai jian in Cantonese?

In Cantonese, 再見 is zoi3 gin3, but Hong Kong people usually just say 拜拜 (baai1 baai3), bye-bye. The rule: 再見 is correct and a touch formal; 拜拜 or plain English "bye" is the everyday goodbye, and the time of day or the situation often calls for a phrase of its own. Paste pinyin into the pinyin converter to check tone marks along the way.

If you'd say (Mandarin)	Say (Cantonese)	Notes
再見 zàijiàn (goodbye)	拜拜 baai1 baai3 / bye	The everyday goodbye, any age, any hour
再見 zàijiàn (polite)	再見 zoi3 gin3	Same word; more formal, safe with strangers
晚安 wǎn'ān (good night)	早唞 zou2 tau2	Bedtime, to family and close friends
回頭見 / 待會兒見 (see you later)	遲啲見 ci4 di1 gin3	"See you later", no fixed time
明天見 míngtiān jiàn (see you tomorrow)	聽日見 ting1 jat6 gin3	聽日 is the Cantonese "tomorrow"
慢走 màn zǒu (to a departing guest)	慢慢行 maan6 maan2 haang4	"Walk slowly": the host's send-off
保重 bǎozhòng (take care)	保重 bou2 zung6	Same word; for longer partings

Scenarios

Situation	Say	Why
Leaving friends after dinner	拜拜 / bye	The default; 再見 would sound stiff here
Leaving the office before colleagues	我走先喇 (ngo5 zau2 sin1 laa3)	"I'm heading off first": the polite exit line
Ending a phone call	係咁先，拜拜	"That's it for now, bye"
Guest leaving your home	慢慢行	The host's farewell; the guest doesn't say it
Saying good night to your mum	早唞	Bedtime only; see 早晨 vs 早唞
Formal meeting with strangers	再見	Polite and neutral

Variations

再 (zoi3, again) + 見 (gin3, see): the build is identical to Mandarin; only the sounds moved.
拜拜 is heard as baai1 baai3, and also as baai3 baai3 or baai1 baai1. A single 拜 (baai1) works too.
一陣見 (jat1 zan6 gin3), "see you in a bit", for when you'll meet again the same day.
早唞 is also written 早抖. Same sound, same meaning.

The mistake to avoid

Ending every conversation with 再見 because Mandarin taught you to. It is never wrong, but with friends it sounds like a TV presenter signing off; say 拜拜. Second slip: saying 慢慢行 when you are the one leaving. It is the host's line to the guest, a wish for a safe trip home, not your own goodbye.

All Mandarin-to-Cantonese guides on the Mandarin to Cantonese page; next phrases: xie xie, wo ai ni, mei guan xi; greeting basics: ni hao in Cantonese; more learner answers on the FAQ page.

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