良い夜を
yoi yoru o
The English phrase "have a good evening" is translated into Japanese as 良い夜を (yoi yoru o).
良い夜を is a polite phrase used to wish someone a pleasant time for the remainder of the evening. It is used specifically when parting ways with someone during the evening, rather than as a greeting when arriving.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means "a good night" followed by the object marker o, with the verb "to spend" or "to have" omitted.
Which one should you use?
While 良い夜を is a wish for the person to enjoy their evening, おやすみなさい is specifically used when someone is going to bed or when leaving a place late at night to say goodbye.
How do you pronounce it?
yoi yoru o
Did you know?
- While 良い夜を is understood, Japanese people rarely use it in daily life and instead rely on お疲れ様です to acknowledge the end of a shared day.
- Using 良い夜を is often seen in dubbed foreign films or translated literature, rather than in traditional Japanese conversation, due to its direct translation of Western idioms.
- Japanese lacks a single, natural equivalent to 'have a good [time period]' because the culture emphasizes the shared experience rather than an individual's future state.
Examples in context
- それでは、良い夜を。Sore de wa, yoi yoru o.Well then, have a good evening.
- 皆様、良い夜を。Minasama, yoi yoru o.Everyone, have a good evening.
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are leaving the office at the end of the day.
- 結衣 Yui健太さん、お先に失礼します。Kenta-san, osaki ni shitsurei shimasu.Kenta, I'm leaving before you.
- 健太 Kenta結衣さん、お疲れ様でした。Yui-san, otsukaresama deshita.Good work today, Yui.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとうございます。良い夜を！Arigatou gozaimasu. Yoi yoru o!Thank you. Have a good evening!
- 健太 Kentaありがとう。良い夜を。Arigatou. Yoi yoru o.Thanks. Have a good evening.
