A cheerful 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo) is one of the easiest ways to start a conversation in Chinese — and the day’s greetings don’t stop there.
From a casual morning 早 to a gentle 晚安 at bedtime, Chinese has a greeting for every part of the day. This guide covers the natural ways to say good morning in Chinese — plus good afternoon, good evening and good night — get these right and you’ll sound warm and natural from the first “morning!” to the last “good night”. Tap any phrase to hear it spoken by a native voice, and use the flashcards to make them stick.
10 ways to say good morning in Chinese (and through the day)
From a polite 早上好 to a casual 早 — plus afternoon, evening and night. Tap 🔊 on each.
Saying good night
A few warm ways to sign off at the end of the day.
Remember: 晚安 (wǎn’ān) is for going to sleep — not an evening greeting. To greet someone in the evening, use 晚上好.
晚上好 vs 晚安 — evening or bedtime?
A classic mix-up: 晚上好 (wǎnshàng hǎo) is “good evening” — what you say when you meet someone at night. 晚安 (wǎn’ān) is “good night” — a farewell as someone heads to bed. Greeting a friend with 晚安 would sound like you’re sending them off to sleep!
In the morning, 早 (zǎo) on its own — literally “early” — is the quick, friendly “morning!” you’ll hear most; 早上好 is the fuller version, and 早安 (zǎo’ān) is gentler, common in Taiwan and text messages. Like in many languages, Chinese greetings shift with the time of day.
早 (just “zǎo”) is your everyday “morning!” — short, warm, and what you’ll actually hear. And remember: 晚安 is for bedtime, not for greeting someone in the evening (that’s 晚上好). Mixing them up is the one slip everyone makes at first.
Which greeting, when?
| Situation | Say | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Morning (standard) | 早上好 | Polite and clear |
| Morning (casual) | 早 | Quick and friendly |
| Meeting someone at night | 晚上好 | “Good evening” |
| Heading to bed | 晚安 | “Good night” |
| A warm bedtime wish | 做个好梦 | “Sweet dreams” |
Common mistakes to avoid
The little slips that trip up beginners saying good morning in Chinese — and the natural fix for each.
✕Greeting someone with 晚安
晚安 means “good night” (bedtime). To greet someone in the evening, say 晚上好.
✕Thinking 早 is incomplete
早 (just “early”) is a warm, normal “morning!” — not lazy or rude at all.
✕Mispronouncing 晚安
It’s wǎn’ān (wǎn + ān, two syllables) — mind the little apostrophe gap between them.
✕Using 早安 everywhere
早安 is gentler and more common in Taiwan and texts; on the mainland, a quick 早 is the everyday choice.
Quick check
1. To greet someone in the evening, you say…
2. The casual everyday “morning!” is…
3. “Good night” (off to bed) is…
FAQs
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