How to Say Hi in Mandarin Chinese

Co-authored by Godspeed Chen

Last Updated: November 30, 2022 References

The very first Chinese phrase that an English speaker learns is often "你好" ("nǐ hǎo"), or "hello." However, just like in English, there's more than one way to say "Hi" to someone in Chinese. Depending on the time, place, and your relationship to the person you're speaking to, a wide range of greetings can be appropriate. Learn these different greetings to expand your Chinese vocabulary and widen your conversational palette.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Common Greetings

Note: The phrases in this article are all in the common Mandarin form of Chinese. We try to replicate the (often difficult) Mandarin pronunciation for each example. For options in other dialects, see our other article on this subject.

1
Use "nǐ chī le ma" ("have you eaten?") as a friendly greeting. This way of saying hello can seem a little bizarre to English speakers, but it's seen as a kind way to greet someone in Chinese. The rough English equivalent is "how are you doing?" This is not necessarily an invitation to get a meal with someone.
- This phrase is pronounced "knee chill-uh mah." The final syllable rhymes with "raw." The "chill-uh" is pronounced at a slightly higher tone than the other two syllables, like this: "_kneechill-uh_mah." This isn't pronounced like a question in English — it doesn't "go up" at the end.
- In Chinese, this phrase is written "你吃了吗."
- If someone says this to you, you can respond with "chī le, nǐ ne" ("吃了你呢"), pronounced "chill-uh, knee-nuh." This means "I've eaten, how about you?"
EXPERT TIP

Godspeed Chen
Native Chinese Speaker & Translator
Godspeed Chen is a Professional Translator from China. He has been working in translation and localization for over 15 years.

Godspeed Chen
Native Chinese Speaker & Translator

Use friendly Mandarin greetings. Godspeed Chen, a native Chinese speaker, says: “There are many ways you can greet someone in Mandarin. Common greetings you’ll find are, ‘Morning!’ 早！(zǎo), and ‘Have you eaten?’ 最近好吗？(zuì jìn hào mǎ). You should also learn to say, ‘Where are you going?’ 去哪儿？(qù nǎ er), and ‘Long time no see!’ 好久不见！(hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn).”
2
Use "zuì jìn hào mǎ" for "how are things going?" This is a great way to greet someone you haven't seen in a few days. Just like in English, the person you're talking to can respond with as long of reply as she or he wishes. You may get a short, vague answer or a long, detailed one — it depends how your friend is feeling.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- This phrase is pronounced "zwee-jeen how-mah." The "zuì" almost rhymes with "Louie," but the "oo" is very short. The N in the second syllable is very light — almost silent. The final two syllables are pronounced as written.
- In Chinese, this phrase is written "最近好吗."
Advertisement
3
Use "wéi" to say hello on the phone. Just like the Japanese say "moshi moshi" and Spanish speakers say "diga," the Chinese have their own special way of answering the telephone. This one is very simple: it's just one syllable.
- Pronounce this almost like the way you'd say the English word "way." Again, you're not asking a question like you would in English here — don't raise your pitch at the end of the word. Say it with a normal, descending tone.
- In Chinese, this word is written "喂."
4
Use "qù nǎ'er" for "where are you going?" This greeting doesn't come across as rude as its English translation might suggest. Here, you are basically showing your respect by expressing mild interest in the person's day-to-day life. A closer English equivalent might be "What are you up to?"
- This phrase is pronounced "chih narr." The first syllable uses a sound that's almost like a combination of the English i and u sounds. The second is held a little bit longer than might seem natural — it's almost like "nah-er" with no break in between.
- In Chinese, this phrase is written "去哪儿."
5
Use "hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn" for "long time no see!" This is the sort of greeting you'd use when you're meeting an old friend you haven't seen in a long time. It comes across as very warm and affectionate.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- This phrase is pronounced "how jyoo boo-jyin." The "jy" sounds are tricky — it's almost like there's a very short "ee" sound in the second and fourth syllables. Again, the n sound at the end of the phrase is very delicate.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Greeting Others Throughout the Day

1
Use "zǎo shang hǎo" or just "zǎo" for "good morning." This chipper phrase is a great way to start your day. It's appropriate for use up until the early afternoon. Just like in English, you can say the whole phrase for "good morning" or use the shortened form, "zǎo," for "morning!"
- This phrase is pronounced roughly "tzow shong how." The first and last syllables rhyme with "plow." The middle syllable rhymes with "wrong." If you just want to say "zǎo," be sure to emphasize the slight t sound at the beginning of the word. The pronunciation is "tzow," not "zow."
- In Chinese, this phrase is written "早上好."
2
Use "xià wǔ hǎo" for "good afternoon." From about noon until the sun starts going down, you can use this cheerful phrase.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- This phrase is pronounced "Shah-oo how." The first syllable rhymes with "raw." The tones of the syllables descends, like this: "^shahoo_how."
- In Chinese, this phrase is written "下午好."
- Note that "xià wǔ hǎo" is seldom used in Taiwan — there, "wǔ'ān" ("午安") is more common. "Wǔ'ān" is pronounced "ooh-on." The "on" is said higher-pitched than the "ooh," like this: "ooh^on."
3
Use "wǎn shàng hǎo" to say "good evening."^{[4]
X
Research source} This phrase is appropriate during very late afternoon and the twilight hours.
- This phrase is pronounced "wun-shong how." The first syllable rhymes with "ton." The n in this syllable is very light — almost silent. Emphasize the second syllable by putting extra stress on it, like this: "wun^SHONGhow."
- In Chinese, this phrase is written "晚上好."
4
Use "wǎn'ān" to say "good night." Use this phrase to great someone when it's dark out. Alternatively, use it when you're going to bed for the night.
- This phrase is pronounced "wun-on." Here, again, the second syllable receives the stress and is pronounced in a higher tone, like this: "wun^ON."
- In Chinese, this phrase is written "晚安."

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Different Forms of "Nǐ Hǎo"

1
Use "nǐ hǎo" as a standard greeting. This is the "classic" greeting that most English-speakers learn as their very first way to say hello in Chinese. There's nothing wrong with this greeting per se, but it's not one that's common among actual Chinese people. Some claim that this sounds a little "stiff" or unnatural — a little like how a greeting like "Hi, how are you doing?" would sound in English.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- The approximate pronunciation here is "knee how." The first syllable is a rising tone (it starts low and ends high), while the second is a "dip" tone — its pitch dips in the middle.^{[6]
  X
  Research source}
- In Chinese, this phrase is written "你好."
2
Use "nǐn hǎo" as a more formal greeting. The very slight difference in this phrase is used to give the phrase a formal tone. Be aware that, even more than "nǐ hǎo," this phrase can imply a "distance" between the two speakers. If you use it with a friend, it can come across as rather cold and corporate.
- The pronunciation is very similar to "nǐ hǎo," but with a very delicate n sound at the end of the first syllable.
3
Use "nǐmén hǎo" to address a group of people. Unlike in English, Chinese uses different words for when you speak to multiple people as opposed to a single person. The meaning and tone here is basically the same as for "nǐ hǎo," only applied to multiple people.
- This phrase is pronounced "knee-min how." The first syllable again is a rising tone while the last one is a "dip" tone.

Community Q&A

Question

How do you say "see ya" in Mandarin?

SunPuppy

Community Answer

Just say "再见" (pronounced zài-jiàn). It literally means "see you later", although people usually just use it to express "goodbye".