你好! Greetings & Introductions
Learn 你好 (nǐ hǎo), 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo), 你叫什么名字 (nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?), 我叫… (wǒ jiào…), 很高兴认识你 (hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ). Understand when to use formal vs. informal address.
A lesson of Mandarin Chinese A1 — Beginner, in Greetings & Basics, about 10 minutes.
你好! — Greetings & Introductions
By the end of this lesson, you will greet people, introduce yourself, and ask someone's name in Mandarin Chinese.
Essential Greetings
| Chinese | Pinyin | Tone | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 你好 | nǐ hǎo | 3+3 (spoken: 2+3) | Hello (informal) | Friends, peers, strangers |
| 您好 | nín hǎo | 2+3 | Hello (formal/respectful) | Elders, authority figures |
| 早上好 | zǎoshang hǎo | 3+neutral+3 | Good morning | Before noon |
| 下午好 | xiàwǔ hǎo | 4+3+3 | Good afternoon | After noon |
| 晚上好 | wǎnshang hǎo | 3+neutral+3 | Good evening | Evening |
| 嗨 | hāi | 1st | Hi | Very casual, borrowed from English |
Culture note: In Chinese culture, a common informal greeting is 你吃了吗？(Nǐ chī le ma? — "Have you eaten?"). This is not literally asking about food — it's equivalent to "How are you?" Don't feel obligated to describe your meal.
Saying Goodbye
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 再见 | zàijiàn | Goodbye | Universal — literally "see again" |
| 拜拜 | bāibāi | Bye bye | Informal, borrowed from English |
| 明天见 | míngtiān jiàn | See you tomorrow | |
| 回头见 | huítóu jiàn | See you later | Informal |
| 晚安 | wǎn'ān | Good night | Bedtime only |
Introducing Yourself
What is your name?
| Formal | 您叫什么名字？ | Nín jiào shénme míngzi? |
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