A1 Expression औपचारिक

おやすみなさい

oyasuminasai

Good night

Phrase in 30 Seconds

The standard, polite way to say 'Good night' in Japanese when someone is heading to bed.

  • Means: 'Please have a good rest' or simply 'Good night'.
  • Used in: At home with family or when ending a late-night conversation.
  • Don't confuse: Never use this as a greeting when first meeting someone at night.
🌙 + {休|やす}む (Rest) + なさい (Polite Command) = Good Night

Explanation at your level:

Oyasuminasai is the polite way to say 'Good night'. Use it when you are going to bed or when someone else is going to bed. If you are talking to a friend or a child, you can just say 'Oyasumi'. It is very simple and used every day at night.
This expression is a polite parting greeting used at night. It is formed from the honorific 'O', the verb 'yasumu' (to rest), and the polite command 'nasai'. While 'nasai' can be a strong command, here it is just a polite set phrase. Use 'Oyasuminasai' for teachers or strangers, and 'Oyasumi' for family.
Oyasuminasai functions as a terminal greeting for the day. Unlike 'Konbanwa', which is used upon arrival, this is strictly for departure. It's important to note the register: 'Oyasumi' is intimate, while the full form is standard polite. In a business context, if you are leaving a late-night event, you would typically say 'Otsukaresama desu' first, then 'Oyasuminasai' as you depart.
The phrase is an honorific imperative construction. The use of 'nasai' (the imperative of 'nasaru') indicates a level of care from the speaker toward the listener's well-being. In literature or formal drama, you might see variations in the level of honorifics used around bedtime, but 'Oyasuminasai' remains the standard for modern consultative and formal registers. It is essential to distinguish this from other night-time greetings to avoid pragmatic failure.
Linguistically, 'Oyasuminasai' represents the fossilization of the 'O-stem-nasai' imperative pattern. While this pattern is generally used for directives from higher to lower status (e.g., 'nasai' as a command), its use in 'Oyasuminasai' has shifted toward a formulaic expression of social etiquette. The pragmatic function is to close the 'interactional space' for the day, ensuring that no further communication is expected until the following morning, thus maintaining the 'wa' (harmony) of the group.
From a cognitive linguistics perspective, 'Oyasuminasai' encapsulates the Japanese cultural conceptualization of rest as a respectful imperative. The diachronic evolution from a literal request for a superior to rest into a ubiquitous social lubricant highlights the importance of honorifics in shaping daily routines. Mastery involves not just the correct phonetic delivery but an intuitive grasp of the 'ma' (timing) between the final 'Otsukaresama' and the concluding 'Oyasuminasai', particularly in high-context professional social settings.

मतलब

A polite farewell greeting before going to bed.

🌍

सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि

Children are taught to say 'Oyasuminasai' to their parents and even to their stuffed animals to foster a sense of gratitude and routine. In business, 'Oyasuminasai' is rarely used unless the relationship is very close or it's a multi-day retreat. 'Otsukaresama desu' is the safer bet. On Twitter (X) or LINE, Japanese users often post 'Oyasumi' with a moon or bed emoji to signal they are logging off for the night. Staff at traditional inns will bow deeply and say 'Oyasuminasaiませ' (mase) after laying out your futon.

💡

The 'U' is silent

In 'yasumi', the 'u' is very short. Pronouncing it as 'ya-su-mi' sounds a bit robotic. Try 'yas-mi'.

⚠️

Not for strangers

Don't say this to people you pass on the street at night. It's for people you've actually interacted with.

मतलब

A polite farewell greeting before going to bed.

💡

The 'U' is silent

In 'yasumi', the 'u' is very short. Pronouncing it as 'ya-su-mi' sounds a bit robotic. Try 'yas-mi'.

⚠️

Not for strangers

Don't say this to people you pass on the street at night. It's for people you've actually interacted with.

🎯

Add 'mase'

If you want to sound like a high-class butler or hotel staff, say 'Oyasuminasai-mase'.

💬

The Bow

Even a small nod of the head while saying this makes you sound much more natural and polite.

खुद को परखो

Which phrase is appropriate for these situations?

You are leaving your host family's living room to go to your bedroom at 10 PM.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: Oyasuminasai

Since you are going to bed, 'Oyasuminasai' is the correct bedtime greeting.

Complete the casual version of the greeting.

A: もう{寝|ね}るね。 B: うん、おやす___。

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: み

The casual form of 'Oyasuminasai' is 'Oyasumi'.

Choose the most polite option for a teacher.

You are ending a late-night Zoom lesson with your professor.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: おやすみなさい

The full form 'Oyasuminasai' is necessary for the polite register required with a professor.

Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.

田中：夜遅くまでありがとうございました。 鈴木：いいえ。それでは、__________。 田中：おやすみなさい。

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: おやすみなさい

In a polite exchange at night, both parties typically exchange 'Oyasuminasai'.

🎉 स्कोर: /4

विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स

Night Greetings: Arrival vs. Departure

Arrival (Hello)
Konbanwa Good evening
Departure (Goodbye/Bed)
Oyasuminasai Good night

Formality Levels of Oyasumi

😊

Casual

  • • Oyasumi
  • • Oyasuu
👔

Polite

  • • Oyasuminasai
🙇

Very Formal

  • • Oyasuminasai-mase

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

10 सवाल

Yes, if you are both finishing work very late or staying at the same hotel, but 'Otsukaresama desu' is usually more appropriate first.

It might be a bit too casual/intimate. Stick to 'Oyasuminasai' or 'Tanoshikatta desu. Oyasuminasai' to be safe.

If the other person is going to sleep, you still say 'Oyasuminasai' to them.

Not literally, but it serves the same social purpose. 'Yoi yume o' is the literal 'Sweet dreams'.

Only in very casual emails to friends. In business, use 'Yoroshiku onegaishimasu'.

Yes, it's very common and sounds warm and natural.

It's a polite command form, essentially saying 'Please do the act of resting'.

Yes, 'Ohayou gozaimasu'. Both use honorific prefixes.

Usually no. It's for night-time. For a nap, you'd just say 'Chotto nemasu' (I'm going to sleep a bit).

Saying just 'Yasuminasai' sounds like a very stern command, like a teacher to a student. Avoid it.

संबंधित मुहावरे

🔗

{休|やす}む

builds on

To rest / To sleep

🔗

{寝|ね}る

similar

To go to bed / To sleep

🔗

{今晩|こんばん}は

contrast

Good evening

🔗

お{疲|つか}れ{様|さま}でした

similar

Thank you for your hard work

🔗

{良|よ}い{夢|ゆめ}を

specialized form

Sweet dreams

कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें

🏠

Going to bed at home

Child: パパ、もう{寝|ね}るね。{お休|おやす}みなさい。

Father: {お休|おやす}み。ゆっくり{休|やす}んでね。

neutral
📱

Ending a late-night phone call

Friend A: あ、もう11{時|じ}だ。そろそろ{寝|ね}ないと。

Friend B: そうだね。じゃあ、{お休|おやす}みなさい。

formal
🍻

Leaving a late office party

Junior: お{先|さき}に{失礼|しつれい}します。お{疲|つか}れ{様|さま}でした。

Senior: お{疲|つか}れ{様|さま}。{お休|おやす}みなさい。

formal
💬

Texting a partner

A: もう{限界|げんかい}…おやすみー😴

B: おやすみ！いい{夢|ゆめ}みてね。

informal
🏨

Hotel guest to staff

Guest: {明日|あした}は7{時|じ}に{起|お}こしてください。{お休|おやす}みなさい。

Staff: {承知|しょうち}いたしました。{お休|おやす}みなさいませ。

formal
🎮

Online gaming sign-off

Player 1: ラスト1{回|かい}で{落|お}ちます。

Player 2: 了解です。おやすみなさーい！

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'O-YASU-MI' as 'Oh, Yes, Me sleep!' and 'NASAI' as 'Nice and sigh' (as you fall onto your pillow).

Visual Association

Imagine a giant, friendly moon wearing a kimono, bowing to you and handing you a soft pillow. The moon says 'Oyasuminasai' as it tucks you in.

Rhyme

When the sun says goodbye, say Oyasuminasai!

Story

A traveler named Yasu was very tired. He found an inn where the host said 'O-' (respectfully) 'Yasu' (the traveler's name) 'Mi' (look at) 'Nasai' (this bed). Yasu looked at the bed and slept perfectly. Now we say it to everyone who needs a good rest.

Word Web

{休|やす}む (To rest){休|やす}み (Holiday/Break){夏休|なつやす}み (Summer vacation){昼休|ひるやす}み (Lunch break){寝|ね}る (To sleep){布団|ふとん} (Futon){夢|ゆめ} (Dream)

चैलेंज

Tonight, before you go to sleep, say 'Oyasuminasai' out loud to your room or text it to one friend who is learning Japanese.

In Other Languages

English high

Good night

English can be used for any late-night goodbye; Japanese implies someone is going to sleep.

Spanish moderate

Buenas noches

Spanish uses the same phrase for arrival and departure; Japanese does not.

French high

Bonne nuit

Very similar usage patterns regarding the intent to sleep.

German high

Gute Nacht

Almost identical in pragmatic function.

Arabic moderate

تصبح على خير (Tusbih 'ala khayr)

Arabic is a religious/cultural blessing; Japanese is a polite imperative.

Chinese high

晚安 (Wǎn'ān)

Chinese is more concise; Japanese has levels of formality (Oyasumi vs Oyasuminasai).

Korean high

안녕히 주무세요 (Annyeonghi jumuseyo)

Korean honorifics are even more complex, but the usage is nearly identical.

Portuguese moderate

Boa noite

Used as a greeting upon arrival, unlike the Japanese phrase.

Easily Confused

おやすみなさい बनाम {今晩|こんばん}は (Konbanwa)

Both are used at night.

Konbanwa = Hello. Oyasuminasai = Goodbye/Bedtime.

おやすみなさい बनाम さようなら (Sayonara)

Both are parting words.

Sayonara is for long-term parting or formal 'Goodbye'. Oyasuminasai is specifically for the end of the day.

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (10)

Yes, if you are both finishing work very late or staying at the same hotel, but 'Otsukaresama desu' is usually more appropriate first.

It might be a bit too casual/intimate. Stick to 'Oyasuminasai' or 'Tanoshikatta desu. Oyasuminasai' to be safe.

If the other person is going to sleep, you still say 'Oyasuminasai' to them.

Not literally, but it serves the same social purpose. 'Yoi yume o' is the literal 'Sweet dreams'.

Only in very casual emails to friends. In business, use 'Yoroshiku onegaishimasu'.

Yes, it's very common and sounds warm and natural.

It's a polite command form, essentially saying 'Please do the act of resting'.

Yes, 'Ohayou gozaimasu'. Both use honorific prefixes.

Usually no. It's for night-time. For a nap, you'd just say 'Chotto nemasu' (I'm going to sleep a bit).

Saying just 'Yasuminasai' sounds like a very stern command, like a teacher to a student. Avoid it.

क्या यह मददगार था?

टिप्पणियाँ (0)

टिप्पणी के लिए लॉगिन करें
अभी तक कोई टिप्पणी नहीं। अपने विचार साझा करने वाले पहले व्यक्ति बनें!