Hello, I’m Kodak.
おやすみ (oyasumi) and おやすみなさい (oyasuminasai) are commonly translated as “good night.”
おやすみなさい is normally a bedtime or nighttime farewell—not an evening greeting.
When you first meet someone in the evening, say こんばんは. When you are parting for the night or going to sleep, say おやすみなさい.
おやすみ (oyasumi)
Good night / Night!
⇒ Casual: family, close friends, partners, and other informal relationships
おやすみなさい (oyasuminasai)
Good night.
⇒ Polite or complete form: people you are less casual with, or whenever you want to sound more respectful
This article explains the meaning, pronunciation, origin, grammar, real-life usage, text-message use, anime use, and the difference between おやすみ, おやすみなさい, and こんばんは.
What Does Oyasumi Mean?
Hiragana: おやすみ
Kanji-based spelling: お休み
Romaji: oyasumi
Natural English: Good night / Night!
As a greeting, おやすみ is the casual shortened form of おやすみなさい. It is used when someone is going to sleep or when people end their interaction for the night.
おやすみ。また明日。
Oyasumi. Mata ashita.
Good night. See you tomorrow.
もう寝るね。おやすみ。
Mou neru ne. Oyasumi.
I’m going to bed now. Good night.
As an interjection, おやすみ means “good night.”
As a noun, お休み can mean a rest, a day off, an absence, or a closure.
The surrounding sentence tells you which meaning is intended.
What Does Oyasuminasai Mean?
Hiragana: おやすみなさい
Kanji-based spelling: お休みなさい
Romaji: oyasuminasai
Natural English: Good night.
おやすみなさい is the fuller and more polite bedtime greeting.
お母さん、おやすみなさい。
Okaasan, oyasuminasai.
Good night, Mom.
では、おやすみなさい。
Dewa, oyasuminasai.
Well then, good night.
A child may say おやすみなさい to a parent, and family members may use either form depending on habit and tone.
Oyasumi vs Oyasuminasai: What Is the Difference?
The difference is mainly casualness, politeness, and emotional distance.
Casual and intimate
⇒ “Night!” / “Good night!”
おやすみなさい
Polite, complete, and respectful
⇒ “Good night.”
Use おやすみ With People You Are Close To
・family members
・close friends
・a romantic partner
・children
・someone with whom you already use casual Japanese
おやすみ。いい夢見てね。
Oyasumi. Ii yume mite ne.
Good night. Sweet dreams.
Use おやすみなさい When You Want to Sound Polite
・a host family member you do not yet know well
・an older acquaintance
・a teacher during an overnight school event
・a coworker or colleague in an overnight setting
・someone with whom polite Japanese is appropriate
今日はありがとうございました。おやすみなさい。
Kyou wa arigatou gozaimashita. Oyasuminasai.
Thank you for today. Good night.
The more important question, however, is whether “good night” is appropriate at all. When meeting someone at night, use こんばんは.
Oyasuminasai vs Konbanwa: “Good Night” Is Not “Good Evening”
Good evening.
⇒ Used when meeting or greeting someone at night
おやすみなさい (oyasuminasai)
Good night.
⇒ Used when going to bed or saying goodbye for the night
Later, when you leave the lounge and go to your room for the night, おやすみなさい may be appropriate.
こんばんは。
Good evening.
Going to your room to sleep at 11 p.m.
おやすみなさい。
Good night.
The Literal Structure of Oyasuminasai
The expression can be understood through three parts.
A polite prefix
休み (yasumi)
Rest; a break; the noun form connected with 休む (yasumu), “to rest” or “to sleep”
なさい (nasai)
A form connected with the respectful verb なさる, used in instructions and established expressions
The literal image is approximately “Please rest.” In ordinary modern use, however, it functions as the fixed farewell “Good night.”
Native speakers normally hear it as “good night,” not as a bossy order to sleep.
Where Does Oyasuminasai Come From?
おやすみなさい developed from the polite instruction お休みなさい, literally encouraging the other person to rest.
休む (yasumu)
to rest / take a break / be absent / sleep
↓
休み (yasumi)
rest / break / absence / holiday
↓
お休みなさい
please rest
↓
おやすみなさい
the conventional greeting “good night”
A historical example of お休みなさい is recorded in a kabuki work from 1753. Over time, the phrase became established as the standard bedtime farewell.
How to Pronounce Oyasumi and Oyasuminasai
お・や・す・み
o-ya-su-mi
4 morae
おやすみなさい
お・や・す・み・な・さ・い
o-ya-su-mi-na-sa-i
7 morae
Keep each Japanese beat fairly even. Avoid placing very strong English stress on only one syllable.
In natural speech they flow together, but try not to replace them with one heavily stressed English diphthong.
How Are Oyasumi and Oyasuminasai Written?
おやすみ
おやすみなさい
Kanji-based spellings:
お休み
お休みなさい
Katakana for stylistic emphasis:
オヤスミ
オヤスミナサイ
Hiragana is extremely common for the greeting because it feels soft and familiar. The kanji spelling is also correct.
When it stands alone at the end of a nighttime conversation, it is usually the greeting “good night.”
When to Use Oyasumi or Oyasuminasai
1. Before Going to Bed
I’m going to bed now. Good night.
Parent: おやすみ。いい夢見てね。
Good night. Sweet dreams.
2. When Someone Else Is Going to Bed
もう遅いから、ゆっくり休んでね。おやすみ。
Mou osoi kara, yukkuri yasunde ne. Oyasumi.
It’s late, so get some good rest. Good night.
3. When Ending a Late-Night Phone Call
Okay, see you tomorrow.
B: うん、おやすみ。
Yeah, good night.
A: おやすみ。
Good night.
4. At the End of a Nighttime Text Conversation
今日は話せてよかった。おやすみ！
Kyou wa hanasete yokatta. Oyasumi!
I’m glad we got to talk today. Good night!
5. When Separating for the Night
それでは、私は部屋に戻ります。おやすみなさい。
Soredewa, watashi wa heya ni modorimasu. Oyasuminasai.
Well then, I’m going back to my room. Good night.
When You Should Not Use Oyasuminasai
1. When You First Meet Someone at Night
おやすみなさい。
○ First greeting at 8 p.m.
こんばんは。
2. When Leaving Work Before Your Coworkers
If you are leaving an ordinary workplace while others continue working, the conventional expression is usually お先に失礼します, not おやすみなさい.
お先に失礼します。
Excuse me for leaving before you.
Coworker replying:
お疲れさまでした。
Thank you for your work.
In an ordinary work-departure situation, use the workplace farewell. おやすみなさい fits better in an overnight setting where people are actually retiring for the night.
3. When You Mean “See You Later” During the Day
Use expressions such as またね, じゃあね, or また後で.
4. When the Other Person Is Merely Taking a Short Break
You may tell someone to rest with 休んでください or 少し休んで. The greeting おやすみなさい normally suggests nighttime or sleep.
How Do You Reply to Oyasumi or Oyasuminasai?
The easiest response is to return the same greeting—or adjust it to match your relationship.
Good night.
B: おやすみ。
Good night.
おやすみ。
Learner replying politely:
おやすみなさい。
An older person may say casual おやすみ, while the younger person answers politely with おやすみなさい.
Natural Conversations with Oyasumi and Oyasuminasai
Conversation 1: Parent and Child
I’m going to bed now. Good night.
Parent: おやすみ。明日も早いからね。
Good night. You have an early morning tomorrow.
Conversation 2: Close Friends by Text
I’m getting sleepy.
B: じゃあ、もう寝たほうがいいよ。
Then you should probably go to bed.
A: うん、おやすみ！
Yeah, good night!
B: おやすみー。
Night!
Conversation 3: Staying with a Host Family
Thank you for today. I’m going to bed soon. Good night.
Host: はい、おやすみなさい。
Okay, good night.
Conversation 4: Late-Night Phone Call
It’s already midnight.
B: 本当だ。続きは明日話そう。
You’re right. Let’s continue tomorrow.
A: うん、おやすみ。
Okay, good night.
B: おやすみ。また明日。
Good night. See you tomorrow.
Conversation 5: Evening Arrival and Bedtime
こんばんは。
Good evening.
At 11 p.m., going to bed:
おやすみなさい。
Good night.
Other Meanings of Oyasumi
The same form お休み has several common non-greeting meanings.
1. A Day Off or Holiday
明日は仕事がお休みです。
Ashita wa shigoto ga oyasumi desu.
I have the day off work tomorrow.
2. Absence from School or Work
田中さんは今日はお休みです。
Tanaka-san wa kyou wa oyasumi desu.
Mr./Ms. Tanaka is absent today.
3. A Shop or Service Being Closed
この店は月曜日がお休みです。
Kono mise wa getsuyoubi ga oyasumi desu.
This shop is closed on Mondays.
4. A Break or Rest
少しお休みになったほうがいいですよ。
Sukoshi oyasumi ni natta hou ga ii desu yo.
You should get a little rest.
A standalone おやすみ！ at the end of a nighttime conversation is the greeting.
In 明日はお休みです, it is a noun meaning “a day off.”
Oyasumi in Text Messages and Social Media
Japanese speakers often shorten or stylize the greeting in casual messages.
Good night.
⇒ standard casual form
おやすみ！
Good night!
⇒ friendly and upbeat
おやすみ〜
Night~
⇒ relaxed or affectionate
おやすみー
Night!
⇒ stretched casual pronunciation
おやすみなさい
Good night.
⇒ polite, gentle, or sincere
おやすみなさいませ
A very polite or service-style “good night”
⇒ possible in hospitality or intentionally elegant speech
Oyasumi and Oyasuminasai in Anime and Manga
Good night.
⇒ quiet, casual, or intimate
おやすみなさい。
Good night.
⇒ polite, gentle, or emotionally careful
おやすみ、いい夢を。
Good night. Sweet dreams.
⇒ warm or romantic
じゃ、おやすみ！
Well, good night!
⇒ casual farewell
永遠におやすみ。
Sleep forever.
⇒ a dramatic or threatening fictional line; not ordinary everyday usage
Useful Expressions Related to Good Night
Sleep well.
ゆっくり休んでね。
Get some good rest.
いい夢見てね。
Sweet dreams.
また明日。
See you tomorrow.
もう寝るね。
I’m going to bed now.
眠い。
I’m sleepy.
お先に寝ます。
I’m going to bed before you.
It sounds warmer and more personal than a simple おやすみ, so it is common with people you are close to.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using Oyasuminasai as “Good Evening”
こんばんは。
Good evening.
Parting for bed:
おやすみなさい。
Good night.
Mistake 2: Using Casual Oyasumi With Everyone
おやすみ may sound overly familiar when the relationship normally requires polite Japanese. Use おやすみなさい when uncertain.
Mistake 3: Using Oyasuminasai as a Normal Workplace Farewell
Use お先に失礼します when leaving work before others, even if it is nighttime.
Mistake 4: Assuming Oyasumi Always Means Sleep
Good night!
今日はお休みです。
I am off today / It is closed today.
Mistake 5: Writing おやすみなせい
おやすみなさい
Incorrect:
おやすみなせい
Mistake 6: Thinking Nasai Always Sounds Harsh
In expressions such as 勉強しなさい (“Study!”), なさい can be an instruction from someone in authority. In the fixed greeting おやすみなさい, the overall phrase sounds conventional and gentle.
Mistake 7: Translating Every English “Good Night” Literally
English speakers may say “Have a good night” when leaving a restaurant or shop. Japanese staff and customers may instead use situation-specific farewells such as ありがとうございました, 失礼します, or お気をつけて.
More Natural Example Sentences
もう遅いから寝るね。おやすみ。
Mou osoi kara neru ne. Oyasumi.
It’s late, so I’m going to bed. Good night.
おやすみなさい。また明日会いましょう。
Oyasuminasai. Mata ashita aimashou.
Good night. Let’s see each other again tomorrow.
今日は疲れたでしょう。ゆっくりお休みください。
Kyou wa tsukareta deshou. Yukkuri oyasumi kudasai.
You must be tired today. Please get some good rest.
おやすみ。いい夢見てね。
Oyasumi. Ii yume mite ne.
Good night. Sweet dreams.
先に寝るね。おやすみなさい。
Saki ni neru ne. Oyasuminasai.
I’m going to bed before you. Good night.
昨日は何時にお休みになりましたか？
Kinou wa nanji ni oyasumi ni narimashita ka?
What time did you go to bed last night?
田中先生は今日はお休みです。
Tanaka-sensei wa kyou wa oyasumi desu.
Professor Tanaka is absent today.
明日は学校がお休みです。
Ashita wa gakkou ga oyasumi desu.
School is closed tomorrow.
このレストランは火曜日がお休みです。
Kono resutoran wa kayoubi ga oyasumi desu.
This restaurant is closed on Tuesdays.
電話を切る前に「おやすみ」と言った。
Denwa o kiru mae ni “oyasumi” to itta.
I said “good night” before ending the call.
眠そうだね。今日は早く休んだほうがいいよ。
Nemusou da ne. Kyou wa hayaku yasunda hou ga ii yo.
You look sleepy. You should go to bed early tonight.
じゃあ、おやすみ。またメッセージするね。
Jaa, oyasumi. Mata messeeji suru ne.
Okay, good night. I’ll message you again.
FAQ About Oyasumi and Oyasuminasai
What does oyasumi mean in English?
As a greeting, おやすみ means “good night” or the casual “night!” It is a shortened form of おやすみなさい.
What does oyasuminasai mean in English?
おやすみなさい means “good night.” It is used when someone is going to bed or when people end their interaction for the night.
What is the difference between oyasumi and oyasuminasai?
おやすみ is casual and intimate. おやすみなさい is the fuller, more polite form. Both express the same basic bedtime farewell.
Can I say oyasumi to a friend?
Yes. おやすみ is natural with close friends, family members, partners, and others with whom you use casual Japanese.
Can I say oyasuminasai to a friend?
Yes. It may sound gentle, sincere, playfully polite, or slightly more distant depending on the relationship and tone.
How do you reply to oyasuminasai?
Reply with おやすみなさい or, in a casual relationship, おやすみ.
Is oyasuminasai the same as konbanwa?
No. こんばんは means “good evening” and begins an evening interaction. おやすみなさい means “good night” and ends an interaction before sleep or for the night.
Does oyasumi also mean a day off?
Yes. In a sentence, お休み can mean a day off, an absence, a break, or that a business is closed.
Is oyasuminasai a command?
The form contains なさい, which is historically and grammatically related to a respectful instruction. As a fixed bedtime greeting, however, おやすみなさい normally sounds like “good night,” not a harsh order.
How do you write oyasumi in Japanese?
The greeting is commonly written おやすみ in hiragana. お休み with kanji is also correct.
Can I say oyasuminasai to my boss?
It can be appropriate in an overnight context when people are retiring for the night. When simply leaving the office, use the normal workplace farewell such as お先に失礼します.
Can I use oyasumi in a text message?
Yes. It is very common at the end of a nighttime chat. Casual variations include おやすみ！, おやすみ〜, and おやすみー.
Summary: Oyasumi and Oyasuminasai Meaning
Casual “Good night” or “Night!”
Use it with close friends, family, partners, and other informal relationships.
● おやすみなさい
The fuller and more polite “Good night.”
Use it when politeness is appropriate or when you want a gentle, complete farewell.
● Main situation
Going to bed or ending contact for the night.
● Not an evening greeting
こんばんは = Good evening
おやすみなさい = Good night
● Literal structure
お + 休み + なさい
Approximately “Please rest,” now used as a fixed greeting.
● Other meaning of お休み
A day off, absence, break, holiday, or closure.
● Writing
おやすみ / お休み
おやすみなさい / お休みなさい
References
- Kotobank: 御休みなさい — definition and historical example.
- Kotobank: 御休 — おやすみ as an interjection shortened from お休みなさい.
- Kotobank: 御休み — meanings including rest and the shortened greeting.
- Kotobank: なさい — grammatical formation and historical example containing お休みなさい.
- The Japan Foundation, Irodori Starter Lesson 1 — beginner dialogue contrasting おやすみ and おやすみなさい.