How to Say “Good Night” in Japanese: Natural Expressions with Audio

Most learners know that “おやすみ (Oyasumi)” means “good night” in Japanese — but when should you say “おやすみなさい (Oyasuminasai)”? What do Japanese people really say at night before going to bed or ending a chat?

In this guide, you’ll learn the most natural ways to say “good night” in Japanese, how to use them in real-life situations, and how they sound in casual vs. formal contexts — complete with native audio and practical tips. You’ll also discover how to start using these phrases naturally with real people in our Online Japanese Conversation Lessons.

2 Most Common Ways to Say Good Night in Japanese

Let’s start with the two most essential “good night” phrases.

1. おやすみ — Oyasumi

• Meaning: Night / Nighty-night / Sleep well

• Register: Casual

• Use with: Friends, family, partners

📝 Insight:

This is the shortened, friendly version of “good night.” It’s perfect for casual conversations, texts, and voice messages with people close to you. Saying just “おやすみ〜” with a friendly tone is enough — and often said with a soft, sleepy voice before bed.

2. おやすみなさい — Oyasumi nasai

• Meaning: Good night (more polite)

• Register: Polite / Formal

• Use with: Teachers, elders, coworkers, polite situations

📝 Insight:

The “なさい” form is a respectful command (from the honorific verb なさる). It sounds polite but still warm — perfect for maintaining respect in family or work settings. It’s commonly used with people you live with or speak to regularly but want to remain respectful toward.

Other Natural Good Night Expressions 

These phrases aren’t direct translations of “good night,” but they’re commonly used together with おやすみ or おやすみなさい — especially in texting or casual conversations.

1. いい夢(ゆめ)見(み)てね — Ii yume mitene

• Meaning: Sweet dreams

• Register: Casual / Friendly

• Use with: Friends, family, partners

📝 Insight:

This phrase literally means “Have good dreams.” It adds a kind, caring tone when paired with おやすみ. It’s great for texts or good night messages to people you’re close to — especially if you want to show warmth or affection.

2. ぐっすり休(やす)んでね — Gussuri yasunde ne

• Meaning: Sleep tight / Rest well

• Register: Casual / Caring

• Use with: Friends, close peers, anyone feeling tired or stressed

📝 Insight:

“ぐっすり” means “soundly” or “deeply,” and “休んで” means “rest.” This is a kind, thoughtful phrase used when someone’s had a long day or needs to recharge. It’s often paired with encouragement or thanks.

Can You Say “Good Night” After Midnight?

Yes — and in fact, Japanese people often do. If someone is heading to bed at 1:00 AM after work, gaming, or studying, it’s still natural to say:

• おやすみ

• おやすみなさい

It marks the start of sleep, not the time of night. And in online chats or texts, these phrases are used even if you’re not physically with the person.

How to Reply to “Good Night” in Japanese

Let’s say someone says “おやすみ” to you. What should you say back?

Here are the most natural and friendly ways to respond:

おやすみ / おやすみなさい (back)

• The simplest reply is just to mirror what the other person says.

• If someone says おやすみ, reply with おやすみ〜.

• If they say おやすみなさい, reply with おやすみなさい.

📝 Insight:

Mirroring the register is a safe and polite default. If someone uses the formal version, use it back.

Add-on Responses

You can also add a kind phrase like:

📝 Insight:

These kinds of replies feel more personal and warm, and they’re very common in real Japanese conversations — especially over LINE or with family/friends.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Saying おやすみ to a teacher, boss, or stranger — too casual

❌ Using おやすみなさい for someone who’s not going to bed — sounds odd

❌ Treating おやすみ as a general nighttime goodbye (it's sleep-specific)

📝 Tip:

If you’re saying goodbye at night but not because someone’s going to bed, try these instead:

• また明日(あした)！(See you tomorrow!)

• 失礼(しつれい)します (Excuse me / good night in a business setting)

• お疲(つか)れさまでした (Thanks for your work — perfect for the end of a shift)

Use It in Real Conversations

Here’s a natural exchange between two friends or classmates:

Mai: 今日(きょう)はありがとう。もう寝(ね)るね。

(Thanks for today. I’m going to bed now.)

Yuto: うん、おやすみ。いい夢(ゆめ)見(み)てね！

(Okay, good night. Sweet dreams!)

📝 Tip:

You can make this your go-to bedtime message for texts, video calls, or even in-person chats!

Don’t Just Memorize Phrases — Use Them in Real Conversation

Reading and listening are great — but real progress happens when you speak.

KaiwaBloom’s Online Japanese Conversation Lessons help you:

• Practice common phrases like おやすみなさい and いい夢見てね

• Speak with native tutors who guide you gently, not just correct you

• Join free conversation sessions where you can try out what you’ve learned in real time

🎯 You’ll go from memorizing to actually using Japanese in conversations that build fluency and confidence.

Quick Recap Table

🌅 Still working on your greetings?

Don’t miss our guide to How to Say Good Morning in Japanese — with native audio and cultural tips to sound natural in any setting.

Final Tip

Add these bedtime expressions to your custom learning item list in the KaiwaBloom app so you can:

• Organize useful phrases you want to remember

• Practice them regularly as flashcards

• Build a growing list of natural, useful phrases

And once you're ready — bring them to life through real conversation in our Online Japanese Conversation Lessons. That’s where everything clicks.

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