Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 你好 | nǐhǎo |
| 日安 | rì'ān |
The phrase is used as a greeting between sunrise and sunset. While 你好 is the standard way to greet someone at any time of day, other time-specific formal greetings include 早上好 (Good morning) until around 10:00 a.m., 下午好 (Good afternoon) from around 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and 晚上好 (Good evening) from around 6:00 p.m. onwards.
What does it mean word for word?
The form 日安 is composed of 日 (sun/day) and 安 (peace/safety), which literally means "day peace".
Which one should you use?
你好 is the much more common, standard way to greet someone at any time of day, whereas 日安 is a literal translation of "good day".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
日安 is highly formal and is rarely used in casual spoken conversation, often appearing instead in written correspondence or very formal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the common greeting 你好 more polite or respectful toward elders or superiors, you change 你 to 您 to get 您好.
How do you pronounce it?
nǐhǎo
Did you know?
- In mainland China, instead of using time-specific greetings like 'good afternoon', people often simply ask if you have eaten by saying 吃了吗? (Have you eaten?).
- The character 安 in 日安 is a pictograph representing a woman 女 next to a roof 宀, symbolizing that a home is peaceful when a woman is present.
- Because 日安 is so formal, using it in a casual setting like a coffee shop might make people think you are performing a play or reading from a period drama.
Examples in context
- 你好，怎么样？Good day, how are you?This sentence shows how to use 你好 in a basic greeting.Tatoeba #392248 by fucongcong, translation #415678 by blay_paul
- 早上好！请问您需要帮助吗？Good morning! Can I help you with anything?
- 你好！很高兴见到您！Hello! Nice to meet you!
- 早！今天天气真好，一起去公园玩吧！Morning! The weather is great today. Let's go to the park!
- 你好，很高兴见到你。Nǐ hǎo, hěn gāoxìng jiàndào nǐ.Hello, nice to meet you.
- 你好，请问洗手间在哪儿？Nǐ hǎo, qǐngwèn xǐshǒujiān zài nǎ'er?Hello, may I ask where the restroom is?
Example conversation
Two acquaintances meet on the street during the afternoon.
- 俊杰 Junjie你好，雨婷！Nǐhǎo, Yǔtíng!Hello, Yuting!
- 雨婷 Yuting你好，俊杰！好久不见。Nǐhǎo, Jùnjié! Hǎojiǔ bùjiàn.Hello, Junjie! Long time no see.
- 俊杰 Junjie你现在要去哪里？Nǐ xiànzài yào qù nǎlǐ?Where are you going now?
- 雨婷 Yuting我去超市买东西。Wǒ qù chāoshì mǎi dōngxī.I am going to the supermarket to buy things.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good day” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
