How do you say "Good night" in Chinese?

"Good night" in Chinese is 晚安。 — written in pinyin as Wǎn'ān. It is an everyday phrase you would use in China.

What does 晚安。 mean in Chinese?

晚安。 (Wǎn'ān) means "Good night". Broken down word by word: 晚 (wǎn) means "late / evening"; 安 (ān) means "peace / safe".

When would you use "Good night" in Chinese?

You say it when you are going to bed, or when you are the one leaving late: it is a farewell, so it closes a conversation rather than opening one. Chinese uses it less than English uses 'good night', so it can sound a little formal; among friends a plain 我先睡了 (I'm going to sleep first) is the everyday version.

How to say “Good night” in Chinese

“Good night” in Chinese is 晚安。, written in pinyin as Wǎn'ān.

晚安。

Wǎn'ān.

Good night.

Word by word

What each part of 晚安。 actually means.

晚wǎnlate / evening
安ānpeace / safe

When you use it

You say it when you are going to bed, or when you are the one leaving late: it is a farewell, so it closes a conversation rather than opening one.
Chinese uses it less than English uses 'good night', so it can sound a little formal; among friends a plain 我先睡了 (I'm going to sleep first) is the everyday version.

Use 晚安。 in everyday situations. Greetings, thanks and the small words you use all day.

Other ways people say it

The same idea, said differently. Roughly in the order you'll hear them.

我先睡了。
Wǒ xiān shuì le
I'm going to sleep first.
The way a chat actually ends at night. 先 makes it 'before you', which is what turns it into a soft exit rather than an announcement.
早点休息。
Zǎo diǎn xiūxi
Get some rest.
What people say instead of good night when the other person is still working. It is a wish for their health, so it does not end the conversation.
晚安，好梦。
Wǎn'ān, hǎo mèng
Good night, sweet dreams.
好梦 is the standard addition, used with family and close friends. The longer written form is 祝你做个好梦.

What usually trips people up

晚安 is not the evening greeting. Arriving at a hotel or meeting somebody after dark, the word is 晚上好 (wǎnshang hǎo) — 晚安 there would tell them you are going to bed.
Chinese greets by time of day: 早上好, 下午好, 晚上好. 晚安 is the only one of the four used at the end of the day rather than the start, which is why mixing it up is the classic slip.
In writing it is everywhere — messages, posts, customer-service sign-offs. In speech it is mostly between family and partners, so it lands warmer than 晚上好 does.

What you might hear back

晚安。Wǎn'ānGood night.
好，你也早点睡。Hǎo, nǐ yě zǎodiǎn shuìOK, you get some sleep too.
明天见。Míngtiān jiànSee you tomorrow.

Common questions

How do you say "Good night" in Chinese?: "Good night" in Chinese is 晚安。 — written in pinyin as Wǎn'ān. It is an everyday phrase you would use in China.
What does 晚安。 mean in Chinese?: 晚安。 (Wǎn'ān) means "Good night". Broken down word by word: 晚 (wǎn) means "late / evening"; 安 (ān) means "peace / safe".
When would you use "Good night" in Chinese?: You say it when you are going to bed, or when you are the one leaving late: it is a farewell, so it closes a conversation rather than opening one. Chinese uses it less than English uses 'good night', so it can sound a little formal; among friends a plain 我先睡了 (I'm going to sleep first) is the everyday version.

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