10+ Phrases for Saying Good Night in Chinese

Ever tried to impress someone with your language skills but ended up saying something totally awkward? We’ve all been there. Imagine you’re about to say goodnight to your friend, crush, or that charming exchange student, and you want to nail it. In that case, you are in the right place! With our compilation of different phrases to say good night in Chinese, you’ll be fully prepared for any circumstances.

Goodnight and Beyond: Common Mandarin Expressions

Of course, it is no surprise that there is more than one expression you can use. And we’ve got you! Here are the most common ways to bid farewell to the day and wish your interlocutor a peaceful night. Let’s make sure you’re not just saying goodnight in Mandarin but doing it with style, charm, and a little cultural flair. Here we go!

• 晚安 (Wǎn’ān) – [wä˧˥.an˥˩] – Good Night.

The first expression on the list is a go-to phrase for saying goodnight in Chinese. It’s short, sweet, and perfect for any occasion, whether you’re signing off a late-night chat or tucking someone into bed.

• 祝你有个美梦 (Zhù nǐ yǒu gè měi mèng) – [ʈʂu˧˥ ni˥˩ joʊ˧˥ kɤ˥˩ meɪ˧˥ məŋ˥˩] – Wishing you sweet dreams.

If you are looking for a soft, sincere, and even personal way to say good night in Mandarin, this is your solution. It is a perfect expression to bid night farewell when talking to someone close to you, like a friend or a family member.

• 安睡 (Ānshuì) – [an˥˩.ʂweɪ˥˩] – Sleep peacefully.

Here’s another one, a short yet affectionate expression. It is rather informal, so don’t use it when talking to your boss. Yet, for casual settings, it might be the best choice. Verbatim, it translates to “peaceful sleep,” and that’s exactly what you wish your interlocutor when stating it.

• 睡个好觉 (Shuì gè hǎo jiào) – [ʂweɪ˥˩ kɤ˥˩ xɑʊ˧˥ tɕjaʊ˥˩] – Sleep well.

This one is very genuine, literally meaning “sleep a good sleep.” It is an amazing option when you want to say good night Chinese way. However, it is also a bit informal and relaxed, so choose carefully whom you will say it to.

• 早点休息 (Zǎodiǎn xiūxi) – [tsɑʊ˧˩ tjɛn˧˩ ɕjoʊ˥ ɕi˧˥] – Rest early.

We all have these people who like to stay up late (we might even be those people, you know). So, if you want to encourage someone to go to sleep earlier, choose nothing else but this expression.

• 好梦 (Hǎo mèng) – [xɑʊ˧˥ məŋ˥˩] – Sweet dreams.

This phrase is so widespread that it exists in almost every language. And, of course, we can’t leave you without telling you how to say sweet dreams in Chinese. Just keep in mind that it is considered quite personal, so don’t tell it to people you are not very close to.

• 安 (Ān) – [an˥˩] – Peace.

Yeah, of course, we can’t make a list of commonly used expressions without spicing it up with some slang. This one is a commonly used response, typically sent as a text message. Basically, it is a shortened form of 晚安 (Wǎn’ān). And, if you’re looking for an equivalent, it’s almost like texting GN in English.

• 安心睡吧 (Ānxīn shuì ba) – [an˥˩ ɕin˥˩ ʂweɪ˥˩ pa˥˩] – Sleep peacefully.

This one conveys a similar meaning to 安睡 (Ānshuì) we’ve mentioned above. It is also quite affectionate and informal. Yet, it is still widely used by native speakers as a popular goodnight Chinese expression. 

• 好好休息 (Hǎohǎo xiūxi) – [xɑʊ˧˥ xɑʊ˧˥ ɕjoʊ˥ ɕi˧˥] – Rest well.

As you can notice, this expression contains duplicated Chinese characters. In this case, it is essential to intensify the conveying meaning. So, basically, you don’t just wish someone to have a good night in Mandarin, but like a really, really good night.

• 轻轻入睡 (Qīngqīng rùshuì) – [tɕhjɛŋ˧˥ tɕhjɛŋ˧˥ ɻu˥˩ ʂweɪ˥˩] – Sleep gently.

Literally, this one translates to “drift off gently.” It is a sincere and genuine expression, perfectly suitable for ending personal conversations with close friends or significant others.

• 闭上眼睛 (Bì shàng yǎnjīng) – [pi˥˩ ʂaŋ˥˩ jɛn˥˩ tɕiŋ˧˥] – Close your eyes.

Remember those friends we’ve mentioned before, the ones that tend to stay awake at night? Well, if the previous expression didn’t work, you can use this one to tell them to go to sleep. 

• 晚安美梦 (Wǎn ān měi mèng) – [wän˥˩ än˥˩ meɪ˧˥ məŋ˥˩] – Good night, sweet dreams.

And here goes the double kill! Using this expression, you wish both good night and sweet dreams in Mandarin. This phrase is amazing for casual interactions and informal ways to bid evening farewells.

• 我先睡了 (Wǒ xiān shuì le) – [wɔ˧˥ ɕjɛn˥˩ ʂweɪ˥˩ lɤ˧˥] – I'm going to sleep first.

Alright, let’s mention your night owl friend one more time. If you feel like the phrases you’ve said to them before didn’t work, and you are falling asleep, you can use this expression to notify them about it. It is quite a polite way to end a conversation and wish someone good night.

• 我去见周公了 (Wǒ qù jiàn zhōu gōng le) – [wɔ˧˥ tɕhʰy˥˩ tɕjɛn˧˥ ʈʂoʊ˥ kʊŋ˧˥ lɤ˧˥] – I’m off to meet the Duke of Zhou.

The last expression on our list is rather humorous. It comes from Chinese folklore, where the Duke of Zhou is believed to control dreams. So, by saying it, you jokingly say that you are ready to go to sleep, wishing your interlocutor goodnight. 

Have a Good Night in Chinese: Regional Expressions

That’s quite a lot of expressions, huh? But don’t worry, even that is not all! Within the Chinese language, there are plenty of different variations and dialects alongside Standard Chinese. So, of course, each one of them has a few versions of good night Mandarin phrases. In the list below, we’ve compiled the most widespread expressions:

• Cantonese (Guangdong, Hong Kong) – 晚安啵 (Wáan ōn bāa).
• Hokkien (Taiwan, Fujian) – 睡了啦 (Shuì le la).
• Taiwanese Mandarin (Taiwan) – 晚安啦 (Wǎn’ān la).
• Shanghainese (Shanghai) – 好梦 (Hǎo mèng).
• Shanghainese (Shanghai) – 老规矩 (Lǎo guījù).
• Sichuanese (Sichuan) – 晚安哦 (Wǎn’ān ó).
• Sichuanese (Sichuan) – 轻轻陆子 (Qīngqīng lù zi).

How do you say goodnight in Chinese? As you can see, there are more than enough options available. Of course, if you are just starting, it might be better to focus on the Standard Chinese expressions. However, for those aiming to expand their knowledge and immerse themselves deeper in Chinese culture, it will always be a good idea to memorize a few local phrases.

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How to Say Night in Chinese: Useful Bedtime Vocabulary

With all those expressions in mind, you are now ready to bid your evening farewells. But you know what? Why don’t we expand your vocabulary even more with these amazing Chinese words related to a good night’s sleep?

• 夜晚 (Yèwǎn) – [jɛ˧˥ wɑn˥˩] – Night.

夜晚是探险的好时机. (Yèwǎn shì tànxiǎn de hǎo shíjī.) – Night is a good time for adventure.

• 月亮 (Yuèliàng) – [jyɛ˧˥ ljɑŋ˥˩] – Moon.

今晚的月亮特别明亮. (Jīn wǎn de yuèliàng tèbié míngliàng.) – The moon tonight is especially bright.

• 枕头 (Zhěntou) – [ʈʂən˥˩ tʰoʊ̯˧˥] – Pillow.

我喜欢睡在软软的枕头上. (Wǒ xǐhuān shuì zài ruǎnruǎn de zhěntou shàng.) – I like sleeping on a soft pillow.

• 被子 (Bèizi) – [peɪ̯˥˩ tsɹ̩˥˩] – Blanket.

夜晚有点冷, 记得盖好被子. (Yèwǎn yǒudiǎn lěng, jìdé gài hǎo bèizi.) – It’s a bit cold at night, remember to cover yourself with a blanket.

• 床 (Chuáng) – [tʂhʷɑŋ˧˥] – Bed.

爸爸今晚要加班, 我可以睡他的床吗? (Bàba jīn wǎn yào jiābān, wǒ kěyǐ shuì tā de chuáng ma?) – Dad is working overtime tonight. Can I sleep in his bed?

• 睡衣 (Shuìyī) – [ʂweɪ̯˥˩ i˥˩] – Pajamas.

晚上穿睡衣更舒服. (Wǎnshàng chuān shuìyī gèng shūfu.) – It’s more comfortable to wear pajamas at night.

• 睡眠 (Shuìmián) – [ʂweɪ̯˥˩ mjen˥˩] – Sleep.

良好的睡眠对健康很重要. (Liánghǎo de shuìmián duì jiànkāng hěn zhòngyào.) – Good sleep is very important for health.

• 梦 (Mèng) – [məŋ˥˩] – Dream.

我昨晚做了一个奇怪的梦. (Wǒ zuó wǎn zuòle yīgè qíguài de mèng.) – I had a strange dream last night.

• 闹钟 (Nàozhōng) – [nɑʊ̯˧˥ ʈʂʊŋ˥˩] – Alarm clock.

我的闹钟每天早上六点响. (Wǒ de nàozhōng měitiān zǎoshang liù diǎn xiǎng.) – My alarm clock goes off at 6 am every morning.

• 入睡 (Shuìzhe) – [ɻu˥˩ ʂweɪ̯˥˩] – Fall asleep.

喝一杯温牛奶可以帮助你更快入睡. (Hē yī bēi wēn niúnǎi kěyǐ bāngzhù nǐ gèng kuài rùshuì.) – Drinking a glass of warm milk can help you fall asleep faster.

• 睡前故事 (Shuìqián gùshì) – [ʂweɪ̯˥˩ tɕhjɛn˥˩ ku˥˩ ʂɨ˥˩] – Bedtime story.

每晚我都给孩子讲睡前故事. (Měi wǎn wǒ dōu gěi háizi jiǎng shuìqián gùshì.) – I tell my child a bedtime story every night.

How to Say Goodnight in Mandarin: Learn with Promova

If you are just starting to learn Chinese, we understand how challenging it might look. All these unfamiliar symbols, new pronunciation, and other things. At first glance, it might even seem impossible. However, we are here to help you! With the convenient Promova application, you’ll be able to learn way more than just some basic information. So, what can we offer?

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Conclusion

How do you say good night in Mandarin? We hope that after this article, this question will no longer pop up in your mind. We’ve provided some of the best options available for both formal and casual settings. And that’s it for now! Don’t forget to write down your favorite expressions in the comments below, and we are eagerly waiting to see you in the next article!