おやすみ
oyasumi
In Japanese, "night night" is expressed as おやすみ (oyasumi).
An informal way to say good night to someone before they go to sleep.
Which one should you use?
While おやすみ is used with friends and family, the longer おやすみなさい is used with superiors or in more formal settings.
How do you pronounce it?
oyasumi
Did you know?
- The word おやすみ is actually a command meaning 'please rest'. It comes from the verb 休む, which means 'to rest' or 'to take a break'.
- In many Japanese households, saying おやすみ is often accompanied by a slight bow, even if it is just to family members, as a sign of closing the day.
- The prefix お in おやすみ is an honorific marker. Even in the informal version, this 'beautification' prefix remains to keep the phrase sounding soft and gentle.
Examples in context
- 先生、おやすみなさい。Teacher, good night.
- 社長、お休みなさい。President, good night.
- おやすみ、友達。Good night, friend.
- お休み、姉さん。Good night, sis.
- お休みね。Good night, okay?
- もう寝るね、おやすみ。mou neru ne, oyasumi.I'm going to sleep now, night night.
- 明日も早いから、おやすみ。ashita mo hayai kara, oyasumi.I have an early start tomorrow, so night night.
Example conversation
Two roommates are finishing their late-night phone calls before bed.
- 美咲 Misakiそろそろ寝るね。sorosoro neru ne.I'm going to bed soon.
- 蓮 Renうん、おやすみ、美咲。un, oyasumi, Misaki.Yeah, night night, Misaki.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮くんもおやすみ。Ren-kun mo oyasumi.Night night to you too, Ren.
- 蓮 Renおやすみ。oyasumi.Night night.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry おやすみ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
