15 Ways to Say Goodnight in Chinese (Mandarin & Dialect with PinYin)

Do you want to know how to say good night in chinese? This article will introduce 9 Ways to Say Good Night in Mandarin Chinese and 6 ways to say good night in dialect. And will give you the Chinese pronunciation of good night and the English meanings of different good night expressions. And each good night Chinese expression comes with an audio pronunciation

Learning how to say good night in Chinese is a meaningful act that can help you connect with others on a deeper level. In this article, WuKong Education will explore the different ways to say good night in Chinese and the cultural meaning behind each phrase. So, let’s step into the fascinating world of Chinese language and culture!

Part 1: 9 Ways to Say Good Night in Mandarin Chinese

1.晚安 (Wǎn’ān)

• Pinyin: wǎn’ān​
• Meaning: Goodnight​
• Usage: 晚安 (wǎn’ān) is the most common and standard way to say goodnight in Chinese. It is versatile and can be used in both casual and formal settings. Whether you’re saying good night to a friend, family member, or even a colleague, wǎn’ān is always appropriate. It’s a straightforward, polite phrase, often used in a friendly manner. For a Good night love message in Chinese, you can say “晚安，亲爱的” (wǎn’ān, qīn’ài de), which means “Goodnight, my dear.”

2.安睡 (Ānshuì)​

• Pinyin: ānshuì​
• Meaning: Peaceful sleep​
• Usage: 安睡 (ānshuì) literally translates to “peaceful sleep.” This phrase is a gentle and affectionate way to wish someone a restful night. It’s a great choice if you want to convey care or affection in your good night wishes in Chinese. For example, “安睡吧，我的朋友” (ānshuì ba, wǒ de péngyǒu) means “Sleep peacefully, my friend.” It’s a more intimate and nurturing phrase, often used with loved ones. If you’re looking for a cute goodnight wish in Chinese, you might say, “安睡，宝贝” (ānshuì, bǎobèi) which translates to “Sleep peacefully, darling.”

3.睡个好觉 (Shuì gè hǎo jiào)

• Pinyin: shuì gè hǎo jiào​
• Meaning: Have a good sleep​
• Usage: 睡个好觉 (shuì gè hǎo jiào) is a casual and friendly phrase, often used between close friends and family. It means “Have a good sleep” and is an informal way to wish someone a restful night. It’s ideal for those looking for a cute goodnight wish in Chinese. A sample usage could be, “睡个好觉，明天见！” (shuì gè hǎo jiào, míngtiān jiàn) — “Have a good sleep, see you tomorrow!”

4.早点休息 (Zǎodiǎn xiūxí)​

• Pinyin: zǎodiǎn xiūxí​
• Meaning: Rest early​
• Usage: When you want to encourage someone to get enough rest, use 早点休息 (zǎodiǎn xiūxí), which means “Rest early.” It’s a phrase often used by parents, teachers, or older friends. For a more good night and sweet dreams in Chinese vibe, you can say, “早点休息，做个甜美的梦” (zǎodiǎn xiūxí, zuò ge tiánměi de mèng), which translates to “Rest early and have a sweet dream.”

5. 好梦成真 (Mèngxiǎng chéng zhēn)

• Pinyin: mèngxiǎng chéng zhēn
• Meaning: May your dreams come true
• Usage: 好梦成真 (mèngxiǎng chéng zhēn) is a more poetic and thoughtful way of saying goodnight. It expresses the hope that the person’s dreams will come true. This phrase is ideal for a good night love message in Chinese or for someone you care deeply about. For example, “好梦成真，亲爱的” (mèngxiǎng chéng zhēn, qīn’ài de) means “May your dreams come true, my dear.”

6.轻轻入睡 (Qīngqīng rùshuì)​

• Pinyin: qīngqīng rùshuì​
• Meaning: Sleep peacefully​
• Usage: 轻轻入睡 (qīngqīng rùshuì) means “sleep peacefully.” It’s a gentle, caring expression often used to wish someone a calm and restful night. This phrase is ideal for a cute goodnight wish in Chinese, especially for children or close friends. A tender example would be, “轻轻入睡，我的宝贝” (qīngqīng rùshuì, wǒ de bǎobèi) — “Sleep peacefully, my baby.”

7.晚安，好梦 (Wǎn’ān, hǎo mèng)

• Pinyin: wǎn’ān, hǎo mèng​
• Meaning: Goodnight, sweet dreams​
• Usage: This phrase is a simple yet sweet way to say goodnight and wish someone sweet dreams in Chinese. It’s perfect for both casual and affectionate situations. For a Good night love message in Chinese, you could say, “晚安，好梦，亲爱的” (wǎn’ān, hǎo mèng, qīn’ài de) — “Goodnight, sweet dreams, my dear.”

8.晚安，甜蜜梦乡 (Wǎn’ān, tiánmì mèngxiǎng)​

• Pinyin: wǎn’ān, tiánmì mèngxiǎng​
• Meaning: Goodnight, sweet dreams​
• Usage: 晚安，甜蜜梦乡 (wǎn’ān, tiánmì mèngxiǎng) is an even sweeter way to say “Goodnight” and “sweet dreams” in Chinese. The word 甜蜜 (tiánmì) means “sweet,” and 梦乡 (mèngxiǎng) refers to the land of dreams. This phrase is perfect for romantic relationships or close friendships. For a good night and sweet dreams in Chinese, you can use this phrase when bidding someone a heartfelt goodnight.

9.闭上眼睛 (Bì shàng yǎnjīng)​

• Pinyin: bì shàng yǎnjīng​
• Meaning: Close your eyes​
• Usage: 闭上眼睛 (bì shàng yǎnjīng) literally means “close your eyes,” and it implies that it’s time to sleep. This is often used in casual situations or when you’re directly telling someone to sleep. It’s perfect when giving a cute goodnight wish in Chinese to someone you care about. An example would be, “闭上眼睛，晚安！” (bì shàng yǎnjīng, wǎn’ān) — “Close your eyes, goodnight!”

Part 2: How to Say Goodnight in Chinese (Formal & Informal)

Mandarin Chinese is the standard dialect of Chinese and is spoken by the majority of people in China. The phrases mentioned above are all in Mandarin Chinese, so you can use them to say goodnight to anyone in China. However, there are also different dialects within China, and each has its unique way of saying goodnight. Let’s take a look at some of them:

1.Goodnight in Cantonese 广东话 (Guǎngdōnghuà)​

In the Cantonese dialect, you can say 晚安 (Wán’ōn) to wish someone a good night.

2.Goodnight in Hokkien福建话 (Fújiànhuà) ​

In the Hokkien dialect, you can use 安 (An) or 睡好 (Shuì hǎo) to say goodnight.

3.Goodnight in Taiwanese台湾话 (Táiwānhuà) ​

In the Taiwanese dialect, you can say 晚安啦 (Wǎn’ān la) or 睡了啦 (Shuì le la) to wish someone a good night.

4.Goodnight in Shanghainese上海话 (Shànghǎihuà) ​

In the Shanghainese dialect, you can use 好梦 (Hǎo mèng) which means ‘same old rules’ but is used as a farewell phrase.

5.Goodnight in Sichuan四川话 (Sìchuānhuà) ​

In the Sichuan dialect, you can say 晚安哦 (Wǎn’ān ó) , which means ‘gently fall asleep’.

6.Goodnight in Northeastern东北话 (Dōngběihuà) ​

In the Northeastern dialect, you can use 睡得好吗？(Shuì de hǎo ma?), which means ‘did you sleep well?’.

As you can see, even within China, different dialects have their own unique way of saying goodnight. This shows the diversity and richness of Chinese culture and language. It is also a reminder to be mindful and respectful of the dialects and customs of others when communicating in Chinese.

If you want to know how to pronounce “Goodnight” in Chinese, book a free class and let Wukong Chinese teachers teach you.

Part 3:Useful Vocabulary of Saying Goodnight in Chinese​

Learning how to say “Goodnight” in Chinese involves more than just memorizing a phrase—it’s about understanding the context and surrounding vocabulary. Here are some useful words and expressions related to saying goodnight, which can also help you craft cute goodnight wishes in Chinese or a heartfelt good night love message in Chinese:​

1.夜晚 (Yèwǎn): Evening / Night​

• Usage: The word for “night” in general. You can use it when referring to the time of day. For example, “祝你度过一个愉快的夜晚” (zhù nǐ dùguò yīgè yúkuài de yèwǎn) – “Wish you a pleasant evening.”​

2.月亮 (Yuèliàng): Moon​

• Usage: The moon often symbolizes tranquility and peace. “月亮明亮，晚安” (yuèliàng míngliàng, wǎn’ān) means “The moon is bright, goodnight.”​

3.枕头 (Zhěntou): Pillow​

• Usage: A key element for a good night’s sleep. “枕头软软的，晚安” (zhěntou ruǎn ruǎn de, wǎn’ān) means “The pillow is soft, goodnight.”​

4.被子 (Bèizi): Blanket​

• Usage: Used for warmth and comfort. “盖好被子，晚安” (gài hǎo bèizi, wǎn’ān) – “Cover yourself with the blanket, goodnight.”

5.床 (Chuáng): Bed​

• Usage: Essential for sleeping. “上床睡觉，晚安” (shàng chuáng shuìjiào, wǎn’ān) means “Go to bed, goodnight.”​

6.闹钟 (Nàozhōng): Alarm clock​

• Usage: Often a reminder to sleep. “关掉闹钟，晚安” (guān diào nàozhōng, wǎn’ān) – “Turn off the alarm clock, goodnight.”​

7.睡前故事 (Shuì qián gùshì): Bedtime story​

• Usage: A story to help you fall asleep. “晚安，宝贝，听睡前故事” (wǎn’ān, bǎobèi, tīng shuì qián gùshì) means “Goodnight, darling, listen to the bedtime story.”

8.入睡 (Rùshuì): Fall asleep​

• Usage: The process of entering sleep. “快速入睡，晚安” (kuài sù rùshuì, wǎn’ān) means “Fall asleep quickly, goodnight.”​

9.梦 (Mèng): Dream​

• Usage: Often connected with good night and sweet dreams in Chinese. “做个甜美的梦” (zuò ge tiánměi de mèng) means “Have a sweet dream.”​

10.失眠 (Shīmián): Insomnia​

• Usage: The opposite of a good night’s sleep. “别失眠，晚安” (bié shīmián, wǎn’ān) means “Don’t have insomnia, goodnight.”​

Using these words, you can create personalized Chinese good night messages. For instance, you can say, “晚安，亲爱的，盖好被子，做个甜美的梦” (wǎn’ān, qīn’ài de, gài hǎo bèizi, zuò ge tiánměi de mèng) – “Goodnight, my dear, cover yourself with the blanket, and have a sweet dream.”​

By incorporating these terms into your good night wishes in Chinese, you can add more warmth and meaning, making your messages feel more authentic and thoughtful. Whether you’re saying goodnight in Mandarin to a loved one or a friend, these vocabulary words will enhance your ability to express affection and care.

Part 4: How to Write Goodnight in Chinese?

In Chinese, characters are used instead of letters. So, to write goodnight in Chinese, you can use the characters 晚安 (Wǎn’ān), which is the most common way to say it. However, if you want to write it in a more formal or poetic manner, you can use other characters mentioned above such as 安睡 (Ānshuì) or 梦想成真 (Mèngxiǎng chéng zhēn).

It is worth noting that Chinese characters have a specific stroke order, so it may take some practice to write them correctly. But with time and effort, you will be able to impress your Chinese friends by writing goodnight in Chinese!

Part 4: FAQs About Saying Goodnight in Chinese:

1.How do you say goodnight in Chinese?​

To say “Goodnight” in Chinese, you can use 晚安 (wǎn’ān). It’s the most common and versatile phrase, used in both formal and informal settings. It’s a simple way to wish someone a peaceful night’s sleep. Wǎn’ān is the Mandarin equivalent of “Goodnight,” and it’s perfect for use with friends, family, or even colleagues in less formal situations. Knowing how to say goodnight in Chinese like this helps you sound more natural and connected to the language.​

2.What is the difference between “zài jiàn” and “wǎn’ān”?​

Zài jiàn (再见) means “Goodbye” and is used when parting ways. It’s commonly used during the day or when leaving someone, unlike wǎn’ān, which specifically refers to wishing someone a good night. If you’re ending a conversation in the evening, say wǎn’ān, but use zài jiàn if it’s during the day or for parting in general.​

3.What does “wǎn’ān bǎobèi” mean?​

Wǎn’ān bǎobèi (晚安宝贝) translates to “Goodnight, baby” or “Goodnight, darling.” The word 宝贝 (bǎobèi) means “baby” or “darling,” commonly used between couples or with children. It adds a loving tone to the simple 晚安.

Summary: 

Saying goodnight in Chinese is an essential part of the language and culture. From formal greetings to casual expressions, there are various ways to wish someone a good night in Chinese depending on the dialect, context, and relationship between individuals.

Remembering these phrases and understanding their cultural significance can help you build relationships and show respect when communicating with Chinese speakers.

So next time you are saying goodnight, try using one of these phrases and see the positive impact it can have.  So, keep practicing and continue learning the rich language of Chinese. 晚安！(Wǎn’ān!) Goodnight! If you want to master these “good night” expressions, WuKong Chinese Online Classes can help you do it easily.

Bella | WuKong Chinese Teacher

Master’s degree from Yangzhou University. Possessing 10 years of experience in K-12 Chinese language teaching and research, with over 10 published papers in teh field of language and literature. Currently responsible for teh research and production of “WuKong Chinese” major courses, particularly focusing on teh course’s interest, expansiveness, and its impact on students’ thinking development. She also dedicated to helping children acquire a stronger foundation in Chinese language learning, including Chinese characters, phonetics (pinyin), vocabulary, idioms, classic stories, and Chinese culture. Our Chinese language courses for academic advancement aim to provide children with a wealth of noledge and a deeper understanding of Chinese language skills.