晚安
wǎn'ān
The English phrase "night night" can be translated into Chinese as 晚安 (wǎn'ān).
晚安 is used as a parting phrase when someone is going to sleep or when ending a conversation late at night.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 晚安 is composed of 晚 (wǎn), meaning 'late' or 'evening' and 安 (ān), meaning 'peace' or 'safety'.
How do you pronounce it?
wǎn'ān
Did you know?
- The character 安 (ān) is a pictograph showing a woman under a roof, symbolizing that a home is peaceful when a woman is present.
- While 晚安 is a standard parting, some couples use the phrase 安安 (ān ān) as a cute, shortened version of 'goodnight' or even as a general 'hello' in online forums.
- In modern Chinese digital culture, people often replace the formal 晚安 with the cute, repetitive 晚晚 or even 安安 to sound more affectionate, similar to how English speakers might use 'nighty night'.
Examples in context
- 明天有重要会议，晚安！Goodnight! We have an important meeting tomorrow.
- 晚安安，做个好梦哦！Night night, sweet dreams!
- 明天约吃晚饭，晚安咯！Let's meet for dinner tomorrow, night night!
- 晚安，好梦。Wǎn'ān, hǎo mèng.Night night, sweet dreams.
- 我也该去睡觉了，晚安。Wǒ yě gāi qù shuìjiào le, wǎn'ān.I should go to sleep too, night night.
- 宝贝，晚安。Bǎobèi, wǎn'ān.Night night, baby.
Example conversation
A couple is finishing a phone call before bed.
- 雨婷 Yuting我也累了，晚安。Wǒ yě lèi le, wǎn'ān.I'm tired too, night night.
- 俊杰 Junjie雨婷，晚安。Yǔtíng, wǎn'ān.Night night, Yuting.
- 雨婷 Yuting俊杰，快去休息吧。Jùnjié, kuài qù xiūxi ba.Junjie, go get some rest.
- 俊杰 Junjie好的，晚安。Hǎo de, wǎn'ān.Okay, night night.
