New Phrases: Greetings in Mandarin Chinese

Posted by Charlie @ Discovering Mandarin Thursday 27 August 2009
There is only one real formal way to say hello in Mandarin Chinese, and whilst you can translate literal meanings from many English greetings the only one that is used is 你好 (nǐ hǎo). Below are some introductory sentences, greetings, how to introduce yourself and how to say bye. There is a lot to take in here, but I hope it useful. Please suggest ways to continue conversations below in the comments.



Ways to say Hello and Greet in Mandarin

Hello
你好
nǐ​ hǎo​

Hello (Polite & Formal: when speaking to someone older or of more importance)
您好 Nín hǎo

Hello (to a group)
你们好
nǐmen​ hǎo​

Hello (more oftenly used on the phone)

wèi​


Instead of saying 'My name is' (我的名字是 / wǒ de míngzi shì) Chinese people usually say I am..... when introducing themselves.

I am...
我是...
wǒ​ shì​...

How are you?
你好吗
nǐ hǎo ma?

How are you doing?
你怎么样?
Nǐ zěnme yàng?

How are you today?
你今天好吗?​
nǐ jīntiān hǎo ma?

Did u sleep well last night?
昨晚睡得睡的好吗?
zúo​ wǎn shùi de hǎo ma?

I am Good
我很好
wǒ hěn hǎo

And You?
你呢?
nǐ ne?

Good Thank You
好谢谢你.
hǎo xiè​xie​ nǐ.

Nice to meet you!
幸会
Xìng huì!

The weather is nice today, isn't it?
今天的天气真好,是不是?
jīn​tiān​ de tiān​qì​ zhēn​ hǎo​, shì​bù​shì​?

Saying Hello at Different Times of Day


Good Morning
早上好
zǎo​shang​hǎo​

or

早安
zǎo ān
(literally 'early peace')
- mainly used in Taiwan

Good Afternoon
下午好
xià​wǔ​hǎo​

or

午安
Wǔ ān
- mainly used in Taiwan

Good Night
晚上好
Wǎnshàng hǎo

or

晚安
Wǎn ān
- mainly used in Taiwan


Saying Goodbye in Mandarin


I have to go now.
我必须走了。
wǒ bì xū zǒu le.

Goodbye
再见
zài​jiàn​

Byebye
拜拜
Bàibài

See You Later
回头见 jiàn
huí​tóu​

or

待会儿见
dài huìr jiàn

I need to go to sleep
我需要睡觉
wǒ​ xū​yào​ shuì​jiào​

See you Tomorrow
明天见
míng​tiān​ jiàn


Please leave comments below, with other phrases and conversation starters for everyone to share.
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3 comments

  1. Taggu Says:
  2. Hey, nice! This was just what I was looking for.

    I heard zǎo ān in a taiwanese drama and I got a little confused because it wasn't what I had learned was the phrase for good morning, but you cleared it out.

    Thanks!

     
  3. Taggu Says:
  4. Replying to your comment, the drama was called Black and White. It's a criminaldrama, very entertaining, but I noticed some differences in pronounciation like the word for "What". Haven't learned pinyin yet so bear with me, but chinese mandarin we say it like "Shuma", while in the (taiwanese) show they pronounced it more like cantonese, "Djuma". Maybe it was just that actor, but I thought it was weird.

    Have you seen Smiling Pasta? It's more lighthearted comedy and cheesy romance. Good on a rainy day :P

     
  5. Hi Taggu,

    I have to admit as yet I havent seen any dramas at all.

    Living in the UK, I haven't known where to start.

    I will check it out see if I can get hold of some.

    Thanks for dropping by.

     

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