zǎoshang hǎo
standard
In pinyin "good morning" in Chinese is zǎoshang hǎo, written 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo). The short form zǎo alone is enough with friends and coworkers. It is also called zǎo'ān.
Meaning: morning greeting (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Note |
|---|---|
| zǎoshang hǎo | standard |
| zǎo | short, casual |
| zǎo'ān | Taiwan, written |
Zǎoshang means "morning" and hǎo means "good". People answer with the same words, or with a single zǎo.
Which one should you use?
Zǎo'ān, written 早安 (zǎo'ān), is also a wish for a good morning. It is especially common in Taiwan and in written messages.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To be polite to a teacher or an older person, add the title, as in lǎoshī zǎo, "good morning, teacher".
How do you pronounce it?
Both syllables of zǎo are said with the third tone, so in real speech zǎoshang hǎo is smoothed by a Mandarin tone rule.
Did you know?
- The word zǎo alone means "early", which is why a bare zǎo also works as a short "good morning".
Examples in context
- Lǎoshī zǎo!Good morning, teacher!
- Zǎo, nǐ chī zǎofàn le ma?Morning, have you had breakfast?
Example conversation
Wen meets her coworker Ke at the office elevator in the morning.
- WenZǎoshang hǎo!Good morning!
- KeZǎo! Jīntiān zhēn lěng.Morning! It is really cold today.
- WenShì a, duō chuān diǎn.Yes, wear a bit more.
