早唞
zou2 tau2
早唞 (zou2 tau2) is the Cantonese way to say goodnight.
This phrase is used to wish someone a good sleep before they go to bed. It is specifically used when someone is actually going to sleep, rather than just leaving a social gathering at night.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the characters for 'early' (早) and 'rest' (唞), literally meaning 'early rest'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
早唞 is a colloquial way to say goodnight, commonly used among friends and family.
How do you pronounce it?
zou2 tau2
Did you know?
- Using 早唞 towards a stranger or a superior in a formal business setting might feel overly intimate, as it implies a level of domestic closeness.
- The character 唞 in 早唞 is a Cantonese-specific character that is rarely used in Standard Written Chinese, where 休息 is preferred for 'rest'.
- While 早唞 is for sleeping, Cantonese speakers often use 早唞 as a gentle way to tell someone to stop working or chatting and go to bed, similar to the English 'call it a night'.
Examples in context
- 早唞啦。zou2 tau2 laa1.Goodnight.
- 我要去瞓覺，早唞。ngo5 jiu3 heoi3 fan3 gaau3, zou2 tau2.I'm going to sleep, goodnight.
- 喂，早唞呀。wai3, zou2 tau2 aa3.Hey, goodnight.
Example conversation
Two roommates saying goodbye before heading to their rooms to sleep.
- 家明 Ka Ming好喇，我好攰，早唞。hou2 laa3, ngo5 hou2 gui6, zou2 tau2.Alright, I'm very tired, goodnight.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan家明，你都早唞。gaa1 ming4, nei5 dou1 zou2 tau2.Ka Ming, you goodnight too.
- 家明 Ka Ming好，聽朝見。hou2, ting1 ciu4 gin3.Okay, see you tomorrow morning.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan拜拜。baai1 baai3.Bye bye.
