How to say good morning in Chinese
"Good morning" in Chinese is 早上好 (zǎo shang hǎo). It is built from "morning good". 早上好 is common at school and work; at home and between neighbors or coworkers a simple 早 is what most people actually say.
Ways to say good morning
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 早上好 | zǎo shang hǎo | good morning | The default answer. |
| 早 | zǎo | morning! | Casual, to family, roommates, coworkers and neighbors |
| 你早 | nǐ zǎo | morning to you | Friendly, often heard from older people or as a reply |
| 老师早 | lǎo shī zǎo | good morning, teacher | Students greeting a teacher; works with other titles too |
| 早安 | zǎo ān | good morning | Mostly in messages and posts, more often written than said |
| 上午好 | shàng wǔ hǎo | good morning | Later in the morning, in meetings, broadcasts and formal settings |
What people say back
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 早，昨晚睡得好吗？ | zǎo, zuó wǎn shuì de hǎo ma? | Morning, did you sleep well last night? |
| 妈，早上好！早饭吃什么？ | mā, zǎo shang hǎo! zǎo fàn chī shén me? | Morning, Mom! What's for breakfast? |
| 老师早！ | lǎo shī zǎo! | Good morning, teacher! |
| 早安，今天降温了，多穿点衣服。 | zǎo ān, jīn tiān jiàng wēn le, duō chuān diǎn yī fu. | Good morning, it's colder today, so wrap up warm. |
The characters in 早上好
Common mistakes
- In 早上 the 上 is neutral tone: zǎo shang, not zǎo shàng.
- 早上好 is for the early part of the day. Do not use it in the afternoon; say 你好 or 下午好.
- 早安 is more common in text messages than face to face, so in person 早 or 早上好 sounds more natural.
Related
- Good afternoon in Chinese: 下午好
- Good evening in Chinese: 晚上好
- Good night in Chinese: 晚安
- Hello in Chinese: 你好
- All phrases and words
Frequently asked questions
How do you say good morning in Chinese?
早上好 (zǎo shang hǎo), literally "morning good". Other ways: 早 (zǎo); 你早 (nǐ zǎo); 老师早 (lǎo shī zǎo).
How do you say good morning to a teacher in Chinese?
Students say 老师早 (lǎo shī zǎo) or 老师好 (lǎo shī hǎo).
Should I say 早上好 or 早安?
Both mean good morning. In person 早上好 (zǎo shang hǎo) or just 早 (zǎo) is more usual, while 早安 (zǎo ān) is mostly used in messages.
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