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For Life
2003.05.09

Oh what a beautiful Friday! Is there any finer day than this day? And is there any finer way to spend a Friday than with a WordMaster on the monitor and a cup of your favorite beverage in hand? Enjoy this one!

Today's LessonCATEGORY: Commonly Confused Words
GOOD EVENING vs. GOOD NIGHT   こんばんは vs. おやすみなさい

Explanation

  • Good evening is a formal greeting used when you meet someone in the evening.

    Good night is said when saying goodbye in the evening or at night, or before going to bed.
  • Good evening　は、夜に誰かに会ったときにする挨拶「こんばんは」にあたる言葉です。これはフォーマルな挨拶です。

    Good night　は、夜の別れの挨拶、または、寝る前の挨拶「おやすみなさい」にあたる言葉です。

examples

  1. (an employee seeing the company director for the first time that day)
    Good evening, Mr. Kennedy.
  2. (beginning a presentation given in the evening)
    Good evening. Today I'm going to be talking to you about some remarkable research my company is doing.
  3. (saying goodbye to a friend after dinner at a restaurant)
    a: I had fun tonight. Good night.
    b: Me too. Good night.
  4. (going to bed)
    a: Good night.
    b: Good night. Sleep well.

Good night!!
(You KNEW we were going to close that way, didn't you?)