How to Say “Good Night” in Hokkien

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暗安
àm-an
The English phrase "good night" is expressed in Hokkien as 暗安 (àm-an).
暗安 is used as a farewell phrase.
Meaning: a farewell (phrase)

How do you pronounce it?

àm-an

Did you know?

  • In many traditional Hokkien speaking communities, it is more common to ask if someone has eaten dinner than to say 暗安 when meeting at night.
  • The character 暗 (dark) is also used in Hokkien to describe things that are hidden or unofficial, such as 'dark money' or 'underground' dealings.
  • The phrase 暗安 is a compound of 'dark' and 'peace', literally meaning 'dark peace'.

Example conversation

Zhiming and Shufen are saying goodbye at the door.

  1. 志明 Chi-ming

    淑芬，我先走了。
    Sio̍k-hun, guá sian-chá chū-liè.
    Shufen, I'm leaving now.
  2. 淑芬 Siok-fun

    好的，志明，慢走。
    hó-ê, Chì-miâ, mān-cháu.
    Okay, Zhiming, take care.
  3. 志明 Chi-ming

    暗安，明天見。
    àm-án, ming-tian kian.
    Good night, see you tomorrow.
  4. 淑芬 Siok-fun

    暗安，明天見！
    àm-án, ming-tian kian!
    Good night, see you tomorrow!
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Valerie Lori
Valerie LoriHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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1 Comment
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Wouter
Wouter
July 15, 2025 17:24

I didn’t know that’s how you spelled it! I have said goodnight to my fiancee a lot, and she taught me phonetically. Thank you Valerie!

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