How to Say “Bedtime” in Chinese
Time and dates · HSK 2
"Bedtime" in Chinese is 睡觉时间 (shuì jiào shí jiān). 睡觉时间 literally means 'sleep time' and is the neutral noun form; you'll see it in parenting books and schedules. In daily speech, Chinese speakers almost always use the verbal 该睡觉了 ('time to go to sleep') instead, mirroring the same 该…了 pattern as 该吃饭了.
Primary translation
睡觉时间
shuì jiào shí jiān
Traditional: 睡覺時間
Variants by register
Casual
该睡觉了
gāi shuì jiào le
When to use it
睡觉时间 literally means 'sleep time' and is the neutral noun form; you'll see it in parenting books and schedules. In daily speech, Chinese speakers almost always use the verbal 该睡觉了 ('time to go to sleep') instead, mirroring the same 该…了 pattern as 该吃饭了. Note the tricky tone on 觉: here it's jiào (fourth tone, meaning 'sleep'), but the same character is read jué in words like 感觉 (gǎnjué, feeling). A cultural note: 晚安 (wǎn'ān, 'good night') is used between family, partners, and close friends, but isn't said casually to coworkers the way 'good night' is in English; a simple 明天见 (see you tomorrow) is more common at the office.
Example sentences
九点了，该睡觉了。
Jiǔ diǎn le, gāi shuìjiào le.
It's nine, time for bed.
小孩的睡觉时间是晚上八点半。
Xiǎohái de shuìjiào shíjiān shì wǎnshang bā diǎn bàn.
The kids' bedtime is 8:30 PM.
你每天几点睡觉？
Nǐ měi tiān jǐ diǎn shuìjiào?
What time do you go to bed every day?