Misunderstanding about "Good night"
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In school I learned that "Good night" means "OYASUMINASAI."
"OYASUMINASAI" in Japanese is used as a greeting before you go to bed.
So I was suprised that people in states say "Good night" when they are leaving the office around 5:00pm.
Because I thought "Good night" is equal to "OYASUMINASAI," it sounds very strange to me. Isn't it too early?
But now I think it makes sense if you interprete it this way.
When people say "Good night" when leaving their office, it is to be "SAYONARA" which means "Good bye."
"Good night" means "I wish you have a good night" and the "night" can include the time before going to bed.
We must not think "Good night" is only translated as "OYASUMINASAI."
I have no problem to say "Good night" at 5:00 now.
But I still I have a problem. There are some Japanese people living in America who say "OYASUMINASAI" instead of "Good night" when they are leaving the office.
I myself sometimes answer "OYASUMINASAI" in Japanese feeling something is strange with this Japanese.
Same is said about "Good morning."
Basicaly "Good morning" is interpreted as "OHAYO GOZAIMASU." But it is sometimes used as "Good-bye" in the morning and , of cource, should not to be interpreted as "OHAYO..."
We need to remember it is from "I wish you have a good morning."
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