Basic Thanks and Farewells | Learn Japanese in English

Sentence explanations

1. また後で会いましょう。

   See you later.

   また

   again

   後で

   later

   会いましょう

   let’s meet

   More detail

   また means “again” here and helps create the recurring-meeting sense of the farewell. It can also mean “also” in other contexts, so its exact contribution depends on the surrounding expression. For example, また会いましょう。 means “Let’s meet again.” 後で means “later.” 後 is the noun “afterward” or “later,” and で marks the time when something happens. The phrase can be reused with other actions, such as 後で電話します。 — “I’ll call later.” 会いましょう comes from the verb 会う, “to meet.” The ending 〜ましょう is the polite volitional form: it presents a proposal such as “let’s …” or, depending on context, “shall we …?” Here it is used for the proposal “let’s meet.” The form is polite and does not by itself specify the participants’ number or gender. For example, 明日会いましょう。 means “Let’s meet tomorrow.” Together, また + 後で + 会いましょう gives “Let’s meet again later,” expressed naturally in English as “See you later.” The next-context sentence shows the same pattern with 明日 (“tomorrow”) in place of 後で: また明日会いましょう。 means “See you tomorrow.”

2. また明日会いましょう。

   See you tomorrow.

   また

   again

   明日

   tomorrow

   会いましょう

   let’s meet

   More detail

   また means “again” here: it presents the meeting as occurring another time, which gives the farewell its “see you again” sense. It can also mean “again” in ordinary repeated-action sentences. 明日 means “tomorrow,” the day after today. It is a time word and can be placed before the action it specifies. Example: 明日行きます。 — “I will go tomorrow.” 会いましょう comes from 会う, “to meet.” The ending -ましょう is the polite volitional form: it can express “let’s …” or a polite proposal to do something together. Thus, 会いましょう is “let’s meet” or “let’s see each other.” The subject is not stated in the sentence; the form itself does not specify who the participants are. Example: また会いましょう。 — “Let’s meet again.” Together, また + 明日 + 会いましょう produces “Let’s meet again tomorrow,” naturally rendered by the fixed translation as “See you tomorrow.” The polite -ましょう form makes this suitable as a friendly, courteous parting expression.

3. どうもありがとうございます。

   Thank you very much.

   どうも

   very much

   ありがとうございます

   thank you

   More detail

   どうも comes first and strengthens the thanks here, giving the intended meaning “very much.” In other contexts, どうも can have other functions, so learn this intensifying use from its combination with thanks. Example: どうもありがとう。 — “Thanks very much.” ありがとうございます is the polite expression “thank you.” It is a more polite form than the familiar ありがとう, so it is useful when speaking respectfully or in a formal situation. Example: ありがとうございます。 — “Thank you.” Together, どうも + ありがとうございます produces どうもありがとうございます。, meaning “Thank you very much.” The sentence is a polite expression of gratitude; the final 。 marks the end of the utterance.

4. 今日はこれで終わりです。

   That is all today.

   今日は

   today (as the topic)

   これで終わり

   that is all; this is the end

   です

   is; a polite copula

   More detail

   今日は combines 今日 (“today”) with は, the topic marker. Here it sets today’s occasion as the topic: “As for today…” The same pattern is reusable with other time expressions, such as 明日は (“as for tomorrow…”). は marks the topic; it is not part of the noun 今日. これで終わり means that the matter is finished at this point: “that is all” or “this is the end.” これ is the demonstrative meaning “this,” while 終わり is the noun “end” or “ending,” related to the verb 終わる (“to end”). In this utterance, で links “this” with the resulting endpoint or state; the whole combination is a useful way to say that something is over. Example: これで終わりです。 — “That is all.” です is the polite copula, used here to present the preceding statement politely. It does not itself mean “today” or “all”; it gives the sentence a polite sentence-ending form. A less formal version can omit it in suitable contexts: これで終わり。 — “That’s all.” Together, 今日は establishes today as the topic, and これで終わりです says that the matter ends at this point. Thus the complete utterance means “That is all today.” In the supplied exchange, it functions as a polite closing statement before the good-night greeting.

5. おやすみなさい。

   Have a good night.

   おやすみなさい。

   Good night.

   More detail

   おやすみなさい is a conventional polite Japanese expression used when parting for the night. In this utterance, it means “Good night” or, more literally in its conventional use, “Have a good rest.” おやすみ is the shorter, more casual form. The ending なさい is associated with a polite directive such as “please do”; in this set expression, it makes the farewell more polite rather than functioning as a freely interchangeable command in every context. The form おやすみなさい should therefore be learned as a polite nighttime farewell, while おやすみ is suitable in more familiar situations. The final 。 is Japanese sentence punctuation and adds no spoken meaning. Together, おやすみなさい。 forms the complete polite expression “Have a good night.”

6. また次回会いましょう。

   See you next time.

   また

   again

   次回

   next time

   会いましょう

   let’s meet

   More detail

   また means “again” here. It is a useful adverb for repeating an action: また話しましょう。 means “Let’s talk again.” With 次回, it helps express meeting again on the next occasion. 次回 is a noun meaning “the next occasion” or “next time” for an event. 次 contributes the idea of “next,” while 回 counts occasions or occurrences. 次回 is useful when referring to a later instance of an event and can sound more organized or formal than casual wording such as 今度 (“next time” or “another time”), depending on context. 会いましょう means “let’s meet.” Its base verb is 会う (“to meet”), and 会いましょう is its polite volitional form: the verb stem 会い- combines with ましょう. This form commonly presents a suggestion or shared intention: 一緒に行きましょう。 means “Let’s go together.” Japanese often leaves the subject unspoken when the situation makes it clear. Together, また, 次回, and 会いましょう express the intention to meet again on the next occasion: “See you next time.” The polite ましょう ending makes this a courteous, friendly closing.