早上好
zǎoshang hǎo
Good morning
早上好 (zǎo shàng hǎo) is the most common and polite way to say “good morning” in Mandarin Chinese. It's appropriate for almost any situation, from greeting friends and family to colleagues and strangers.
What does 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo) mean?
早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo) means “good morning” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “morning good.”
When to use it
Neutral and polite. For a more casual greeting among friends or family, you can simply say 早 (zǎo). Another variation, 早安 (zǎo ān), is also common, especially in Taiwan, and can sound a bit more formal or literary.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “ZAO-shung-HOW.” The first syllable '早' is a third tone, '上' is a fourth tone, and '好' is a third tone. Remember the third tone sandhi for 好 when it follows another third tone, so it's pronounced 'zǎo shàng ní hǎo'.
Other ways to say it
- 早zǎomorning (casual)
- 上午好shàngwǔ hǎogood morning / good late morning
Examples
早上好，王经理！
zǎoshang hǎo, Wáng jīnglǐ!
Good morning, Manager Wang!
你好吗？
nǐ hǎo ma?
Are you having a good morning? (Literally: You good morning?)
大家早上好！
dàjiā zǎoshang hǎo!
Good morning, everyone!
Pro tip: While 早上好 is always correct, native speakers often shorten it to just 早 (zǎo) in casual settings, especially when greeting someone they know well or when passing by quickly.
Related phrases
下午好 · Good afternoon晚上好 · Good evening晚安 · Good night
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