Goodnight, Sleep Tight: How to Say Good Night in Chinese

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you needed to say "good night" in Chinese but had no idea how to do it?

Perhaps you were staying with a Chinese host family or trying to make a good impression on Chinese people. Whatever the reason, learning to say "good night" in Chinese can be a valuable skill that opens up new doors and creates stronger relationships.

In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about saying "good night" in Chinese.

From basic phrases to internet slang, we'll help you impress your Chinese friends and colleagues with your language skills.

3 basic goodnight phrases in Mandarin Chinese

Let's start with the basics. 

1. 晚安—wǎn ān

In Mandarin Chinese, the most common way to say "good night" is "晚安" (wǎn ān).

This phrase literally means "evening peace" and is used to wish someone a peaceful, calm, quiet, and restful night. It's a polite and formal way to say goodnight and can be used in most situations.

If you want to say good night in the Chinese language in a little more casual tone, you can try using some internet slang variations of "good night" in Mandarin Chinese. 

Here are a couple more examples:

2. 晚安了—wǎn ān le

This phrase is similar to saying "good night" in English. It's a more informal way to say "good night" and is often used among friends.

3. 早点睡—zǎo diǎn shuì 

This phrase means "sleep early" and is often used to encourage someone to get to bed for a good night's rest. It's a friendly and caring way to say goodnight before sleep.

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Cantonese goodnight phrase

Now, let's move on to Cantonese. Cantonese is a language spoken in Hong Kong, Macau, and parts of mainland China.

It's a unique language with its own set of phrases, vocabulary, and cultural nuances. If you're traveling in Hong Kong or doing business in the region, for example, it's helpful to know how to say "good night" in Cantonese.

4. 晚安啵"—wáan ōn bāa

In Cantonese, "good night" is "晚安啵" (wáan ōn bāa). 

The "啵" (bāa) at the end is a colloquialism that adds a playful character and friendly tone to the phrase. It's commonly used in Hong Kong and other Cantonese-speaking regions.

Sweet dreams and other goodnight phrases

Finally, let's talk about some other goodnight phrases that you might find useful. Here are a few examples:

5. 睡个好觉—shuì gè hǎo jiào

This phrase means "have a good rest at night" and is a common way to say goodnight in Chinese. It's a friendly and caring way to wish someone a good and peaceful night's rest in bed.

6. 做个好梦—zuò gè hǎo mèng

This phrase means "have a good dream" and is often used to wish someone sweet dreams. It's a cute, playful, and lighthearted way to say goodnight.

7. 晚安美梦—wǎn ān měi mèng

This phrase means "good night and sweet dreams" and is a more formal way to say good night. It's a polite and respectful way to wish someone a good night's rest.

8. 好好休息—hǎo hǎo xiū xi

This phrase means "rest well". The duplication of the first word 好 hǎo, which means "good" is used to emphasize this word.

9. 傍晚好—bàng wǎn hǎo

This phrase means "good evening". Compared to good night, this phrase is used at dusk, approximately between 5 pm to 6 pm.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say goodnight in Chinese?

1. 晚安—wǎn ān: good night (formal)

2. 晚安了—wǎn ān le: good night (informal)

3. 早点睡—zǎo diǎn shuì: sleep early

4. 晚安啵"—wáan ōn bāa: good night in Cantonese

5. 睡个好觉—shuì gè hǎo jiào: have a good rest at night

6. 做个好梦—zuò gè hǎo mèng: have a good dream

7. 晚安美梦—wǎn ān měi mèng: good night and sweet dreams

8. 好好休息—hǎo hǎo xiū xi: rest well

9. 傍晚好—bàng wǎn hǎo: good evening between 5 pm to 6 pm 

In summary

Saying "good night" is an important part of any conversation, whether it's in English or Chinese. If you're looking to improve your Chinese language skills, learning how to say "good night" is a great place to start.

Not only is it a polite and respectful way to end a conversation, but it also shows that you care about the other person's well-being.

Remember kids, the key to mastering the Chinese language is practice. Try using these good night phrases with your Chinese-speaking friends and colleagues, and don't be afraid to make mistakes!

Jing You is a Chinese native who grew up in the Fujian province and soaked in the Chinese culture while living with her grandparents. She later moved to Singapore to pursue further education. However, she has always been passionate about the Mandarin language despite being in an environment that speaks English predominantly. She was involved in multiple Mandarin and Chinese culture programmes in schools, and brought this passion forward by tutoring elementary school students Mandarin in her adulthood.