Chinese phrases
How to say good morning in Chinese
Good morning in Chinese is 早上好 (zǎo shang hǎo). In daily life, most people just say 早.
早上好
good morning
上 is light: zǎo shang hǎo.
Ways to say good morning
早上好
Everydaygood morning
Complete and polite: teachers to a class, colleagues at work, announcements.
早
Everydaymorning!
The real everyday greeting. Neighbours, coworkers, the person at the breakfast stall.
您早
Formalgood morning (respectful)
To an older neighbour or your boss.
早啊
With friendsmorning!
Friendly and relaxed.
早安
Textinggood morning
Written more than said: a morning message to a partner or friend, a social post. Soft and a little cute.
上午好
Formalgood morning (formal)
Formal mornings: meetings, speeches, radio and TV. More common than 早上好 later in the morning.
Later in the day
中午好
good day (around noon)
Around lunchtime, mostly in formal settings.
下午好
good afternoon
Polite, in meetings, classes and shops.
晚上好
good evening
When you meet people in the evening.
Common mistakes
Saying 晚安 for good evening
晚安 means good night: you say it when someone goes to bed. To greet someone in the evening, say 晚上好.
Saying 早 at lunchtime
早 and 早上好 are for the early morning, until about 10 a.m. Later, a plain 你好 is fine.
A full tone on 上
In 早上好, 上 is short and light: zǎo shang hǎo, not zǎo shàng hǎo.
On the stairs
早啊！
Neighbour: Morning!
王阿姨早！
Leon: Morning, Auntie Wang!
吃早饭了吗？
Neighbour: Have you had breakfast?
吃了，您呢？
Leon: I have. And you?
