How to say "see you later" in Chinese

回头见

huítóu jiàn

See you later

Character breakdown

Grammar and structure

This is a fixed expression: 回头 (huítóu) literally means "turn head" but here means "later," and 见 (jiàn) means "see." Together it's "see you later."

Variations and politeness

再见

zài jiàn

Goodbye — More formal and standard way to say goodbye.

下次见

xià cì jiàn

See you next time — More specific about meeting again.

Mini dialogue

A

我们下次见!

wǒmen xià cì jiàn!

We'll see each other next time!

B

好的,回头见!

hǎo de, huítóu jiàn!

Okay, see you later!

When to use it

Appropriate

  • When saying goodbye to a friend or colleague you expect to see again soon.
  • In casual, friendly situations, similar to 'see you around'.

Avoid when

  • In very formal situations, where 再见 (zàijiàn) is more appropriate.
  • When you don't expect to see the person again; it implies a future meeting.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say 'see you later' in Chinese?

You can say 回头见 (huítóu jiàn). It's a casual way to say goodbye when you expect to see the person again soon.

How do you pronounce 回头见?

It's pronounced huítóu jiàn. The tones are: huí (2nd tone), tóu (2nd tone), jiàn (4th tone).

When do you use 回头见?

Use it in informal situations with friends or acquaintances when you'll likely meet again soon. It's similar to 'see you later' in English.

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