Say Goodbye in Cantonese — Keep Cantonese Alive Lesson 6
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Welcome to the final lesson of the Keep Cantonese Alive Beginner Course! You've come so far — from saying hello to celebrating, blessing, loving, and eating together. Now it's time to say goodbye — but not forever! 🌸
👋 Lesson 6 — Say Goodbye 再見
Every great conversation ends with a warm goodbye. In Cantonese, farewells carry warmth and the promise of seeing each other again. Today you'll learn how to close any conversation with grace.
📖 Vocabulary
| Cantonese | Romanisation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 再見 | Joi Gin | Goodbye / See you again |
| 拜拜 | Baai Baai | Bye bye (casual) |
| 遲啲見 | Chi Di Gin | See you later |
| 保重 | Bou Jung | Take care |
| 好耐冇見 | Ho Noi Mou Gin | Long time no see |
| 下次見 | Haa Chi Gin | See you next time |
🗣️ How to Pronounce It
These friendly spellings are approximate guides to Hong Kong Cantonese pronunciation, as in the other lessons. English spellings cannot show every Cantonese sound or tone exactly.
再見 — Joi Gin
- Joi — begin with a light “ts” sound rather than the English “j” in “joy”, followed by a sound close to the “i” in “time”. Keep your pitch level.
- Gin — roughly “geen”, with a hard “g” as in “go”, not like the drink “gin”. Keep your pitch level.
保重 — Bou Jung
- Bou — close to “boh”, with a rising pitch.
- Jung — begin with a light “ts” sound, followed by “oo” and a final “ng”, with a low, level pitch.
🌟 Fun Fact
再見 literally means "see again" — not just goodbye, but a promise to meet once more. In Cantonese culture, farewells are never truly final. Elders often say 保重 (Bou Jung) — take care of yourself — as a parting blessing, especially to younger family members. It's love wrapped in two syllables. 🌸
✏️ Activities
1. End your day in Cantonese! Tonight before bed, say 再見 (Joi Gin) to someone — a family member, a friend, or even just to yourself in the mirror! 👋
2. Practise all 6 lessons! Go back through Lessons 1–6 and say one phrase from each. You now know how to greet, celebrate, bless, love, eat, and say goodbye in Cantonese! 🎉
3. Write your farewell! Write 再見 by hand. Then write a short note to someone using everything you've learned across all 6 lessons. 🌸✍️
🎓 You Did It!
You've completed the Keep Cantonese Alive Beginner Course! 🎉
You can now:
- ✅ Say hello — 你好 (Nei Ho)
- ✅ Wish someone happy birthday — 生日快樂 (Saang Yat Faai Lok)
- ✅ Share blessings — 祝你好運 (Juk Nei Ho Wan)
- ✅ Express love — 我愛你 (Ngo Oi Nei)
- ✅ Share a meal — 食飯 (Sik Faan)
- ✅ Say goodbye — 再見 (Joi Gin)
That's not nothing — that's Cantonese alive in you. 🌸
📥 Get the Full PDF Course
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Thank you for keeping Cantonese alive. 加油! 🌸
— K Lo, Lolo Little Space