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How to Say Goodnight in Chinese—Phrases & Pronunciation

Even small things like a quick "goodnight" text can be really nice to receive. Below you'll find simple Mandarin phrases, help with the pronunciation (in pinyin), cultural tips, and ready-to-send examples for lovers, friends, family, and long-distance partners. I'll also show you how to turn a line of text into a multimedia keepsake using TellSomething (text and image/video).

The basic word: 晚安 (wǎn’ān)—meaning & pronunciation

  • This is the Chinese character for "good evening.”
  • Pinyin: wǎn'ān (third tone + first tone)
  • Literal meaning: The phrase "evening + peace" means "have a peaceful evening" or "goodnight.”
  • When to use: the normal way to say "goodnight" when you're about to go to bed or before you sleep. Collins Dictionary lists 晚安 as the common Chinese equivalent of the English "goodnight." Collins Dictionary
A short note: the Chinese words '晚上' (wǎnshang) and '好' (hǎo) mean 'good evening.' '晚安' (wǎn'ān) is a farewell that is used at night or when one is going to sleep. Wordsense explains that 晚安 is typically used when people are going to bed. WordSense Dictionary

Useful alternatives & what they mean

Here are some common variations you can use, depending on the tone and the relationship. Each line has pinyin and a short translation.

Sweet/Romantic

  • 晚安，我的宝贝！ 晚安，我的宝贝！ Good night, my baby!
  • 晚安，做个甜甜的梦！ 晚安，做个甜甜的梦！ —Good night, have sweet dreams!
  • 睡个好觉，我爱你。 Shuì gè hǎo jiào, wǒ ài nǐ. — Sleep well, I love you.

Caring/Supportive

  • 早点休息，别熬夜！ Zǎo diǎn xiūxi, bié áoyè! Get some rest and don't stay up late!
  • 祝你今晚睡个好觉。 —Hope you sleep well tonight.
  • 盖好被子，别着凉。 Gài hǎo bèizi, bié zháoliáng. ——Cover up well and don't catch a cold.

Casual/Friendly

  • 晚安，朋友！ 晚安，朋友！ — Good night, friend!
  • 明天见！ Míngtiān jiàn! See you tomorrow!

Playful / Funny

  • Remember to turn the light off when you go to bed! Goodnight. Wǎn'ān~ Remember to turn the light off! Goodnight!
  • 晚安，别做噩梦。（除非有我在。） Goodnight—no nightmares (unless I’m in them).
(You can find the full list of over 30 phrases in the appendix below.)

Pronunciation tips—get tones right, sound natural

  • The tone is important. The pinyin for 'wǎn' is 'wán,’ which is a third-tone pronunciation. The pinyin for 'ān' is 'ān,’ which is a first-tone pronunciation. Try saying 'wǎn'ān' as a short two-syllable phrase.
  • Natural rhythm: native speakers often say it quickly, as one unit: [wǎn'ān].
  • Say "you" in a polite way when talking to someone older than you. You can say "You are welcome" (nínwǎn'ān) or "You are free to rest" (nín zǎo diǎn xiūxi).
To practice listening quickly, use audio resources that are designed for Mandarin learners. These should include dictionary entries and native pronunciations. Wiktionary and online Chinese dictionaries provide you with the pronunciation, and you can listen to it. WordSense Dictionary +1

Cultural notes—when a “goodnight” matters in Chinese contexts

  • Not just words: In many Chinese families, saying "goodnight" to parents or kids before sleeping is a small way of showing they care.
  • Local details: In some places (especially Taiwan), 晚安 can also be used to say "good evening,” depending on how formal the situation is. promova.com
  • Tone & relationship: When you write to people you don't know very well, keep it short. When you write to people you do know well, make it warm and personal. For example, you could write, "Sleep well after your exam tonight.”

Turn a text into a memorable multimedia ritual (use TellSomething)

Do you want to sleep better? A short multimedia message (text and photo or 5–10 seconds of voice note) often feels more personal than text alone.
Here are some quick ideas:
  • Send "good night" and a 5-second voice note: say their name and "good night"—the voice feels personal.
  • Share a photo of your evening view and write a caption that says, "Goodnight, I'm thinking of you."
  • Use TellSomething to make a "Goodnight Ritual" card: put together your chosen line, one photo, and a 7–10-second video or voice clip. Ask your friend to reply with their own audio—over time, you'll create a private archive of nightly messages.
notion image

Why nightly rituals work

Small, regular actions like nightly messages can make relationships stronger and make people feel more secure. The Gottman Institute calls these kinds of shared practices "rituals of connection." These rituals help to build intimacy and trust. The Gottman Institute
Also, if you have a regular routine for going to bed and getting up, it will make you healthier in mind and body. If you do things like say thank you to people, or write a short note, or relax before you go to bed, you will sleep better. Harvard Health talks about how having the same routine every night and getting enough sleep can improve your mood and how well you think. Harvard Health

Ready-to-send templates

Romantic/Intimate
  • 晚安，我的宝贝， 梦里见。 —Good night, my baby. See you in your dreams.
  • 睡个好觉，我爱你。 Shuì gè hǎo jiào, wǒ ài nǐ. — Sleep well, I love you.
Friendly/Casual
  • 晚安，今天辛苦了！ Good night, you worked hard today!
  • 明天见！ 晚安！ Míngtiān jiàn! Wǎn'ān! See you tomorrow! Good night!
Family
  • 爸爸/妈妈，您早些休息，晚安！ Bàba/māma, nín zǎo diǎn xiūxi, wǎn ān! Dad/Mom, rest early, and have a good night!
Long-distance
  • 同一片月亮下，晚安，想你。 Tóng yī piàn yuèliang xià, wǎn'ān, xiǎng nǐ. Under the same moon, goodnight, missing you.

30+ common goodnight phrases

(This is a short list, drawn and adapted from common usage—make sure you practise your pronunciation before sending it out.)
  1. Good evening. — Goodnight. Collins Dictionary
  1. Good dream! — Sweet dreams.
  1. Get some rest. — Make sure you get some rest early.
  1. Get a good night's sleep! — Sleep well!
  1. I saw it in my dream! — See you in my dreams!
  1. We'll meet tomorrow! — See you tomorrow!
  1. Good evening, darling. — Goodnight, baby.
  1. 我爱你，晚安。 Wǒ ài nǐ, wǎn'ān. I love you, good night.
  1. 祝你今晚睡得香甜。 Hope you sleep soundly.
  1. 放松点，别想太多。 Fàngsōng diǎn, bié xiǎng tài duō. Relax, don't overthink.

Authority & further reading

  • This is the entry for the word "晚安" in the Collins Chinese-English Dictionary. Collins Dictionary
  • Here are some notes on how to use '晚安' and the difference between that and '晚上好.' WordSense Dictionary
  • Gottman Institute—Rituals of connection (why it's important for couples to have small nightly rituals). The Gottman Institute
  • Harvard Health Publishing—how to get enough sleep and the benefits of having a regular routine. Harvard Health

Final tips

  1. Add a detail. "Goodnight, don't forget your umbrella tomorrow!" Personalizing things makes them more emotional.
  1. Keep it consistent. Ritual is better than one-off poetry: a short nightly line is more reassuring than rare grand messages. (See Gottman on rituals of connection.) The Gottman Institute
  1. Try using a range of media. A voice note and a text on TellSomething make a small keepsake that you can both look at again.