おやすみ、お兄ちゃん
oyasumi, oniichan
In Japanese, "good night brother" is expressed as おやすみ、お兄ちゃん (oyasumi, oniichan).
This phrase is a friendly way to say goodbye or to wish a male sibling a good sleep. The word おやすみ can be used alone to mean "good night" if the person you are talking to is already understood from the context.
Which one should you use?
The phrase おやすみ、お兄ちゃん is the informal and affectionate version. You can make the phrase more polite and formal by using おやすみなさい、お兄さん instead.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form おやすみ、お兄ちゃん is informal and affectionate, typically used by a younger sibling toward an older brother. For a more polite and formal approach, you should use おやすみなさい、兄さん.
How do you pronounce it?
oyasumi, oniichan
Did you know?
- In many Japanese households, siblings rarely use each other's actual given names, preferring to use the title お兄ちゃん or a variation of it instead.
- While お兄ちゃん means 'older brother', Japanese speakers often use it to address any older male they feel close to, even if they are not related by blood.
- The word おやすみ is actually a shortened version of the verb 休む, which means 'to rest' or 'to take a break'.
Examples in context
- 兄さん、おやすみなさい。明日は大切な日ですから、しっかり休んでください。Good night, brother. Tomorrow is an important day, so please get a good rest.
- もう寝るね。おやすみ、お兄ちゃん。Mou neru ne. Oyasumi, oniichan.I'm going to sleep now. Good night, brother.
- おやすみ、お兄ちゃん。また明日ね。Oyasumi, oniichan. Mata ashita ne.Good night, brother. See you tomorrow.
Example conversation
Misaki is leaving the living room to go to her bedroom.
- 美咲 Misakiもう遅いし、寝るね。Mō osoi shi, neru ne.It's late, so I'm going to sleep.
- 陽太 Yotaそうだね。おやすみ。Sō da ne. Oyasumi.You're right. Good night.
- 美咲 Misakiおやすみ、お兄ちゃん。Oyasumi, oniichan.Good night, brother.
- 陽太 Yotaゆっくり休んでね。Yukkuri yasunde ne.Get some good rest.
