晚安

• Pinyin: wǎn ān
• Hanzi breakdown: 晚 = 日 (sun) + 免 (phonetic) — evening, late; 安 = 宀 (roof) + 女 (woman) — peace, safe

Meaning

Good night. A greeting used before going to sleep or parting in the evening.

A standard farewell used in the evening or at bedtime. Used both in person and in text messages. More universal and standard than regional alternatives. Often the last message in an evening chat. Can be used with family, friends, and romantic partners.

Examples

1. 妈妈说了晚安，然后关了灯。 Mom said good night, then turned off the light.
2. 睡觉前我给朋友发了一条晚安。 Before going to sleep, I sent a good night message to my friend.
3. 晚安，明天见！ Good night, see you tomorrow!

Usage Guide

Context: bedtime, evening farewell, texting

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 晚安，好梦！(Good night, sweet dreams!)
• 妈妈，晚安。(Good night, Mom.)

Don't Say

• 中午的时候说晚安 (Don't say 晚安 during the daytime — it's specifically for evening or bedtime; use 再见 or 拜拜 during the day)

Origin & History

晚 (wǎn, evening/late) + 安 (ān, peace/safe). Wishing someone a peaceful evening — good night.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal