When Kenshin Said Sayonara...

[SilentNinjaFox]

The english translation of the word sayonara doesn't give justice to the implications of the manner in which the word is used. Sayonara is used when you don't think you'll see that particular person for a very long time. My Japanese text book says: "Sayonara indicates that the speaker does not expect to see the person spoken to before she "turns a page in her life"; not until a new day arrives, or until fate brings the two together again, or until they meet again in the other world."
So, I didn't know this until recently and when I found out and thought about how Kenshin said goodbye to Kaoru it was like he was saying "I'll never see you again"... dang.... that's intense... like camping...  

[Ame Yuki Kaze]

I believe in Jesus Christ, my Savior. If you do too, and aren't scared to admit it, then copy and paste this into your signature.

I read that a while back and was surprised to find it out. A casual goodbye would be "ja ne" or "ja matte". "Sayonara" really does translate as "farewell".

Another word that's freely slung around by fanfic writers is "aishiteru" or "I love you". But to the Japanese, that was a very profound thing to say and would only be said to the person you were in love with and only in private. Saying it was probably akin to asking the person to marry you.

 

[SilentNinjaFox]

Oh wow! I didn't know that!
.....
*facebooks Yami*  

[Ame Yuki Kaze]

I believe in Jesus Christ, my Savior. If you do too, and aren't scared to admit it, then copy and paste this into your signature.

Oh, that was you! Thanks!

 

[TheIllustriousBlueJay]

well, for once they said it better in the anime  

[SilentNinjaFox]

Yami no Hitokiri

I believe in Jesus Christ, my Savior. If you do too, and aren't scared to admit it, then copy and paste this into your signature.

Oh, that was you! Thanks!

No prob. yeah, I'm the chic with the read hair.  

[KinKin-chan]

Huh, that's a fun little tid-bit. I never knew that! Cool, thanks!  

[SiePunker]

That's cool. I didn't know it was that intense. Makes me rethink a bit.