I wanted to talk about the different ways to say “Good morning” in Chinese. In my experience, these are the three most common ways: 早上好, 早, and 早安.
While they’re all used to say good morning to someone, I’ve noticed their usage can vary depending on context, region, and level of formality. Here’s a quick breakdown 
1. 早上好 (zǎoshàng hǎo)
- Literal Meaning: Good morning.
- Formality: In my experience this one is a slightly more formal way to say “Good morning” and it’s used in polite or professional settings. I’ve also noticed students will use 早上好 when speaking to teachers (that is, if they’re not sticking to the usual 老师好!)
2. 早 (zǎo)
- Literal Meaning: Morning.
- Formality: Very casual and commonly used. I’ve head this most among friends, family and friendly colleagues.
- When to Use: Perfect for a quick, friendly “morning” as you pass someone in the hallway or greet a neighbor.
- For example I’ve had this super simple exchange many times:
- A: 早！
- B: 早！
3. 早安 (zǎo’ān)
- Literal Meaning: Morning peace (but still used to mean “Good morning”).
- When to use: I’ve only ever heard this used in Taiwan, where it’s the most standard greeting (for formal and informal situations).
I personally haven’t ever heard this used in mainland China, but would love to hear about it if any of you guys have!
What do you usually say when greeting someone in the morning in Chinese? Have you noticed any regional or formality differences? 我们来讨论一下吧！
BONUS If you want to learn more ways to say hello in Mandarin, you can check out this blog post on Chinese Greetings