Bonsoir and Bonne soirée

So I'm confused as to how these words are to be used. Bonsoir means good evening, or can be used to say hello in the evening time. An example of bonsoir is how someone would greet another when walking into a Paris restaurant for dinner. Now Bonne soirée means 'have a good evening'. My question is this; can it also be used to greet someone in the evening time, or is it used when you're about leaving a place like you would say 'have a great day'.

Bonsoir could be use to say "hello" in an evening time and also "goodbye" in an evening time.

Bonne soirée is only use as a "goodbye", it is not possible to use it to greet someone. It is the same as "bonne journée"

Bonne journée :)

So what is the difference between Bonne Soiree and Bonne Journee? 

Faye.Vitan wrote:

So what is the difference between Bonne Soiree and Bonne Journee?

Don't say Bonne soirée before 1600 and say it only to people you will not see again that day.

You may also say Bonne soirée at any time to offer your best wish for a coming evening party.

Michel wrote:

Don't say Bonne soirée before 1600

Can you say it all night, or at some point does it turn into bonne nuit?

You can say Bonsoir or Bonne soirée all night.

Bonne nuit comes when either you or the person you are talking to go to bed.

The difference between “Bonsoir” and “Bonne Soirée" is minute - In English, “bonsoir” means “good evening”. It is used in place of “hi”, “hello” or other such expressions to greet a person you talk to or see in the evening, or more specifically, after 6pm. “Bonne soirée” can be translated as “have a nice evening”. It is used to bid farewell to a person when the parting is taking place during the evening.