When you are about to go to bed, or when you are parting ways with someone for the night, you can say 晚安 (wǎn ān). It literally translates to "late peace" or "evening peace," which is why it means "good night."
You can use it with friends, family, or anyone you'd normally say good night to in English. It's a simple and common phrase that's polite and easy to remember.
When we say “晚安 (wǎn’ān)”, we are saying “good night”. We use it when we are leaving for the night or when we are going to bed. Usually, we say this at the end of the day or late evening to people we know well. There are no strict rules about when to say it, but it’s mostly used when you or the other person is about to sleep. Think of it as a way to wish someone a peaceful night's rest.
When we say 晚安 (wǎn'ān), we are saying "good night." We say this when we are parting ways with someone in the evening or when we are going to bed. It's a simple, polite way to acknowledge the end of the day.
You can use it with friends, family, or even in more formal situations. It's similar to saying "goodbye" but specifically for the nighttime. Think of it as a warm wish for a peaceful night's rest.
§ Saying Good Night at Home
You'll hear 晚安 all the time with family and friends. It's the most common way to say good night.
妈妈，我睡觉了。晚安！
Mom, I'm going to bed. Good night!
宝贝，晚安！做个好梦。
Sweetheart, good night! Have sweet dreams.
§ Saying Good Night at Work or School
Even in more formal settings like work or school, 晚安 is perfectly acceptable when saying goodbye at the end of the day, especially if you're leaving late.
王老师，我先走了，晚安。
Teacher Wang, I'm leaving now. Good night.
同事们，我回家了，大家晚安。
Colleagues, I'm going home. Good night, everyone.
- Important Note
- While 晚安 is fine, if you're just leaving work at a regular time and it's not late, saying '再见' (zài jiàn - goodbye) is more common and neutral.
§ In Media and Public Announcements
You might also hear 晚安 in media, like at the end of a TV broadcast or a radio show, especially if it's a late-night program. It's a polite way to sign off.
感谢您的收看，各位观众，晚安。
Thank you for watching, dear viewers, good night.
§ Online and in Messages
In the digital age, 晚安 is commonly used in chat apps, social media, and emails when you're ending a conversation late at night.
- When texting friends:
聊得很开心，晚安！
Had a great chat, good night!
- In a group chat when everyone is signing off:
大家都早点休息吧，晚安。
Everyone should rest early, good night.
- Key Takeaway
- 晚安 is a straightforward and polite way to say good night in almost any situation, from casual to somewhat formal. Just make sure it's actually nighttime!
How Formal Is It?
"老师，晚安。(Lǎoshī, wǎn'ān.) -- Teacher, good night."
"大家晚安。(Dàjiā wǎn'ān.) -- Good night, everyone."
"晚安啦。(Wǎn'ān la.) -- Good night!"
"宝贝晚安。(Bǎobèi wǎn'ān.) -- Good night, my dear (baby)."
"好梦晚安。(Hǎo mèng wǎn'ān.) -- Sweet dreams, good night."
Pronunciation Guide
- confusing the tones, especially the third tone on 'wǎn'
Examples by Level
妈妈对我说：“晚安，宝贝！”
Mom said to me: 'Good night, baby!'
睡觉前，我们互相说晚安。
Before sleeping, we say good night to each other.
太晚了，我要回家说晚安了。
It's too late, I need to go home and say good night.
他和朋友们说声晚安，然后离开了。
He said good night to his friends and then left.
爸爸出差了，我只能给他说晚安的短信。
Dad is on a business trip, I can only send him a good night text message.
祝你有个美好的夜晚，晚安！
Wish you have a wonderful night, good night!
孩子们听完故事就对奶奶说晚安。
After listening to the story, the children said good night to grandma.
工作结束后，同事们互相道晚安。
After work, colleagues said good night to each other.
我妈妈总是告诉我，睡觉前要说晚安。
My mom always tells me to say good night before bed.
总是 (zǒngshì) means always; 睡觉前 (shuìjiào qián) means before sleeping.
你这么早就回来了，晚安，好好休息。
You're back so early, good night, get some good rest.
这么早 (zhème zǎo) means so early; 好好休息 (hǎohǎo xiūxī) means to get good rest.
孩子们，现在是睡觉时间了，晚安。
Children, it's bedtime now, good night.
现在是 (xiànzài shì) means it is now; 睡觉时间 (shuìjiào shíjiān) means bedtime.
我们在电话里说了晚安，然后就挂断了。
We said good night on the phone and then hung up.
在电话里 (zài diànhuà lǐ) means on the phone; 挂断 (guàduàn) means to hang up.
他临走前，对每个人都说了一声晚安。
Before he left, he said good night to everyone.
临走前 (lín zǒu qián) means before leaving; 对每个人 (duì měi gè rén) means to everyone.
夜深了，该说晚安了。
It's late at night, time to say good night.
夜深了 (yè shēn le) means it's late at night; 该 (gāi) means should/ought to.
虽然我们相隔千里，但我仍然希望你晚安。
Although we are thousands of miles apart, I still wish you a good night.
虽然 (suīrán) means although; 相隔千里 (xiānggé qiānlǐ) means thousands of miles apart.
别忘了给你的父母打电话说声晚安。
Don't forget to call your parents and say good night.
别忘了 (bié wàng le) means don't forget; 给 (gěi) means to give/for.
Test Yourself 36 questions
朋友，___！(friend, good night!)
‘晚安’ (wǎn ān) means 'good night'.
妈妈，我睡觉了，___。(Mom, I'm going to bed, good night.)
To say 'good night' before sleeping, we use ‘晚安’ (wǎn ān).
睡前对家人说___。(Say good night to family before sleeping.)
‘晚安’ (wǎn ān) is the correct greeting for 'good night'.
晚上，我们说___。(In the evening, we say good night.)
‘晚安’ (wǎn ān) is used for 'good night' in the evening.
小狗睡着了，对它说声___。(The puppy is asleep, say good night to it.)
Even for pets, you can say ‘晚安’ (wǎn ān).
他累了，准备睡觉，对他说___。(He's tired and going to sleep, say good night to him.)
When someone is going to sleep, you say ‘晚安’ (wǎn ān).
You are saying good night to a friend. How would you write 'Good night' in Chinese?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
晚安 (Wǎn'ān)
Your friend is going to bed. Write a short sentence in Chinese wishing them good night.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
你晚安! (Nǐ wǎn'ān!)
Imagine you are texting someone good night. Write 'Good night' in Chinese characters.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
晚安
What does person A say?
Read this passage:
A: 晚安。 B: 晚安。
What does person A say?
晚安 (wǎn'ān) means good night.
晚安 (wǎn'ān) means good night.
What is the meaning of this sentence?
Read this passage:
你晚安！ (Nǐ wǎn'ān!)
What is the meaning of this sentence?
你 (nǐ) means 'you', and 晚安 (wǎn'ān) means 'good night'. Together, it's a way to say good night to someone directly.
你 (nǐ) means 'you', and 晚安 (wǎn'ān) means 'good night'. Together, it's a way to say good night to someone directly.
What is the interaction about?
Read this passage:
朋友：晚安！ 你：晚安！
What is the interaction about?
Both friends are saying '晚安', which means 'good night', indicating they are parting ways for the night.
Both friends are saying '晚安', which means 'good night', indicating they are parting ways for the night.
Choose the correct greeting to say before going to bed.
晚安 (Wǎn'ān) means 'good night' and is used when parting ways in the evening or before going to bed.
Which of these situations would you most likely use 晚安 (wǎn'ān)?
晚安 (wǎn'ān) is specifically used to wish someone a good night, typically when parting ways in the evening or before sleeping.
Your friend is about to go home after a late dinner. What would you say to them?
Since your friend is going home after a late dinner, wishing them 'good night' with 晚安 (Wǎn'ān) is the most appropriate greeting.
You can say 晚安 (Wǎn'ān) to someone when you see them for the first time in the afternoon.
晚安 (Wǎn'ān) is specifically for 'good night' and is not used as a greeting in the afternoon. You would use 你好 (Nǐ hǎo) or 下午好 (Xiàwǔ hǎo) instead.
If you are going to bed, it is appropriate to say 晚安 (Wǎn'ān) to your family members.
Yes, 晚安 (Wǎn'ān) is a common and appropriate way to say 'good night' to family members before going to sleep.
The phrase 晚安 (Wǎn'ān) can be used interchangeably with 'hello' at any time of day.
No, 晚安 (Wǎn'ān) specifically means 'good night' and is only used in the evening or before going to bed. It is not a general 'hello'.
A child is saying goodnight to their mother.
Someone is telling their loved one to rest early and say goodnight.
Someone is saying goodnight to a group of people before leaving.
Read this aloud:
祝你有个好梦，晚安。
Focus: wǎn ān
You said:
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Read this aloud:
睡觉了，晚安。
Focus: shuì jiào le, wǎn ān
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
我该睡了，晚安。
Focus: wǒ gāi shuì le, wǎn ān
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
她睡前总是对孩子说一声“___”。
Contextually, '晚安' (good night) is the appropriate greeting before sleeping.
加班到深夜，他拖着疲惫的身体回到家，简单地对妻子说了声___。
Given that he worked until late at night, '晚安' (good night) is the correct greeting.
月光洒进窗户，房间里一片寂静，只剩下他轻轻地说了声“___”。
The serene, late-night setting implies a 'good night' greeting.
告别了朋友，他骑着车回家，心里想着今晚的聚会，并对朋友们发了条消息说“___”。
After a late gathering with friends, '晚安' (good night) is the suitable farewell message.
睡前阅读是他的习惯，读完最后一页，他会默默对自己说一声“___”，然后进入梦乡。
Before going to sleep, one would say '晚安' (good night) to oneself.
经过一天的忙碌，终于可以躺在床上休息了，他闭上眼睛，对这漫长的一天说了句“___”。
At the end of a busy day, before resting, '晚安' (good night) is the appropriate sentiment.
她总是在睡前给家人说一声___，表达她的爱。
Context suggests saying goodbye before sleep, so '晚安' (good night) is the most appropriate.
尽管工作再忙，他每天晚上都会抽出时间给远方的妻子打个电话，互道一声___。
The sentence implies a routine before going to sleep, making '晚安' (good night) the best fit.
演出结束后，艺术家们向观众鞠躬，并祝大家___。
After an evening performance, wishing the audience a good night ('晚安') is a common courtesy.
小明睡不着，妈妈轻声对他耳语：'乖孩子，___。'
A mother comforting a child who can't sleep would wish them '晚安' (good night).
会议一直开到深夜，结束时，主席疲惫地对大家说了一句___。
At the end of a late-night meeting, saying '晚安' (good night) is appropriate.
夜幕降临，万籁俱寂，人们互道一声___，准备迎接新的明天。
As night falls and everyone prepares for the next day, '晚安' (good night) is the natural greeting.
/ 36 correct
Perfect score!
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More communication words
承认
A2to admit; to acknowledge
恐怕
B1I'm afraid that...; perhaps; probably. Used to express concern, uncertainty, or to soften a polite refusal.
同意
A1to agree
虽然...但是...
A2although...but...
公告
B1announcement
回答
A1to answer; to reply
接听
B2To answer (a phone call).
致歉
B2To express an apology formally. This is a critical term for IELTS letters of apology.
提问
A1To ask a question; to pose an inquiry.
广播
A2Broadcast.
