To all the Chinese Learners, the first Chinese word you learn may be 你好“nihao”. But nobody told you that early to ask “How are you?” is to simply add 吗“ma” after “nihao”. So today, we’ll see in the following some Chinese greeting customs. Then you’ll know, in China, to properly ask “How are you?” is something more than just “Nihao ma?”.
1. 你好! (nǐ hǎo) / 您好！(nín hǎo) “Hello/Good Day”
First of all, the most common form of greeting in China is “ni hao”. Its literal meaning is “You are well” but usually translated as “Good day”. The same greeting phrased as a question (How are you?) is “ni hao ma”. The response is usually “ni hao”. You may use it on any occasion regardless of the time of the day or the social status of the person you are greeting.
2. 你吃饭了吗 (nǐ chī fàn le mɑ) “Have you eaten”
Next, it is also very common to say “ni chi fan le ma” to your friend in the moring, noon or night. It just means that you show your kindness and careness rather than inviting them to have a meal. To understand this hidden meaning in “ni chi fan le ma” is very vital in your social life. This is a
3. 最近如何/最近怎么样？(zuì jìn rú hé ？)/忙什么呢？(mánɡ shén me ne ？)
Moreover, you may also hear these two phrases very often: “Mang shenme ne?”忙什么呢？(What are you busying doing these days?) and “Zuijin ruhe?” 最近如何？(How are you doing recently?). These two phrases are usually used by family members and friends, which of course show your affection and devotion.
4. 近来可好？(jìn lái kě hǎo)”How are you these days”
近来可好 is basically equivalent to 最近怎么样. You can reply with “tǐnɡ hǎo de”挺好的,” hái hánɡ” 还行，”wǒ hěn hǎo”我很好,which would be similar to “I’m fine” in Chinese. Of course, you could just say a few lines about how things are going.
Many western countries accept hugs and kisses as a popular form of greeting although a handshake is still the formal way of greeting people. In China, a handshake or a simple and kind salutation is common. Handshaking was first introduced into China after the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty at the beginning of 20th Century. In ancient China, when people first met or came across in the street, they would shake hands with each other to show the sincerity to make friends of thier kindness. Now, it is also quite prevalent.
Finally, it’s also getting popular to greet your close friends with a hug and greet a business partner with a firm handshake. As we all know, Chinese people may be the worst at expressing themselves with body gestures. But nowadays, it is quite common to see two Chinese people hug together instead of just saying careless “how are you” to each other.
Watch the video below, and you will learn how to say how are you in Chinese more clearly and easily.
Other Basic Chinese Learning Resources you might need
Basic Chinese Phrases & Word List: This post introduces you the most basic daily Chinese phrases used in daily life, about self introduction, time and dates.
Top Five Ways to Speak Chinese Well: Many Chinese learners believe that Chinese speaking is one of the most difficult parts of Chinese learning. How can you improve your Chinese speaking skills? Today, we will introduce some ways to speak Chinese well.
Thank you for reading my post, if you have any questions about Chinese learning, please feel free to comment below.
«How are you?» «How have you been?» «Are you OK..?»
Just like in English, there are many ways to ask how someone is doing in Chinese.
Naturally, the question you choose depends on the situation:
Summary Of Asking «How are you?» in Chinese From The Video Above
|
No. |
Chinese Expressions of «HOW ARE YOU?» |
|---|---|
|
1 |
zuì jìn zěn me yàng？ 最近怎么样？ How’s it going? / How have you been lately? |
|
2 |
zuì jìn máng xiē shén me？ 最近忙些什么？ What have you been busy with lately? |
|
3 |
zuì jìn qù nǎr ne？ 最近去哪儿呢？ Where have you been lately? |
|
4 |
hái hǎo ba？ 还好吧？ Are you all right? |
|
5 |
yī qiè shùn lì ma？ 一切顺利吗？ Is everything OK? |
|
6 |
shùn lì ma？ 顺利吗？ Did it go well? (You could ask this if someone has attended a job interview or similar) |
|
7 |
nǐ zěn me le？ 你怎么了？ What happened to you? |
|
8 |
nǐ bù shū fu ma？ 你不舒服吗？ Are you feeling uncomfortable / unwell? |
|
9 |
shēn tǐ hǎo ma？ 身体好吗？ lit. “Is the body good?” (Used to ask how older people are doing.) |
|
10 |
shén me shì？ 什么事？ What’s the matter? / What’s up? |
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你好嗎？ (Nǐ Hǎo Ma) is the most common way of asking ‘How Are You?’ in Chinese, other useful ways include 最近怎麼樣？ (Zuì Jìn Zěn Me Yàng) which means “How are you recently?”
In fact, using “你好嗎” (Nǐ Hǎo ‘Ma) might not be the best choice when you want to say hi to someone in Chinese culture. Of course, the sentence is grammatically correct, but it is not often used by native speakers and could sound unnatural.
If you are learning from a Chinese friend or a high-qualified Chinese tutor, they might teach you some other ways! For example, you can say “最近怎麼樣？ (Zuì Jìn Zěn Me Yàng)”, which means “how are you recently?” This way of greeting is more used by native speakers.
In this article, we are going to introduce you many other ways to say hi in Chinese, with both written texts in simplified and traditional characters. If you are interested, you should also read Chinese numbers 1 to 100 and yes in Chinese to learn more about how to express things in Chinese! Or here to learn more about saying good bye in Chinese!
How are you in Chinese: the Questions
| English | Pinyin | Simplified Chinese | Traditional Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|
| How are you? | Nǐ Hǎo ‘Ma | 你好吗? | 你好嗎? |
| I am doing fine, and you? | Wǒ Hěn Hǎo, Nǐ Ne? | 我很好，你呢？ | 我很好，你呢？ |
| How are you recently? | Zuì Jìn Rú Hé Ne | 最近如何呢？ | 最近如何呢？ |
| What are you up to recently? | Zuì Jìn Zaì Máng Shé Mẹ Ne？ | 最近在忙什么呢？ | 最近在忙什麼呢？ |
| Hello everyone! | Dà Jīa Hǎo | 大家好 | 大家好 |
| Hello teacher! | Lǎo Shī Hǎo | 老师好 | 老師好 |
| Is everything going well? | Yí Qìe Shùn Lì Ma | 一切顺利吗 | 一切順利嗎 |
| Is everything fine? | Haí Hǎo Ma | 还好吗? | 還好嗎？ |
| Have you eaten? | Nǐ Chī Fàn Le Ma | 你吃饭了吗 | 你吃飯了嗎 |
| Are you full? | Nǐ Chī Bǎo Le Ma | 你吃饱了吗 | 你吃飽了嗎 |
| Where are you going? | Nǐ Yào Qù Nǎ Lǐ | 你要去哪里 | 你要去哪裡 |
| What are you doing today? | Nǐ Jīn Tīan Yào Zùo Shén Me Ne | 你今天要做什么呢 | 你今天要做什麼呢 |
| How’s your body recently? | Shēn Tǐ Haí Hǎo Ma | 身体还好吗 | 身體還好嗎 |
| How are you today? | Jīn Tīan Gùo De Hǎo Ma | 今天过的好吗 | 今天過得好嗎 |
| What’s new recently? | Zuì Jìn Yǒu Shén Me Xīn Xīan Shì | 最近有什么新鲜事 | 最近有什麼新鮮事 |
| What have you been doing recently? | Zuì Jìn Zaì Gàn ma | 最近在干嘛 | 最近在幹嘛 |
15 Ways to Ask & Answer How Are You in Chinese
1. How are you? – Nǐ Hǎo Ma (你好吗？/你好嗎？）
As mentioned above, this is not a commonly used sentence by native speakers, but it is still a correct way to say hello, and it is easy to use and remember.
Also, this sentence is often used when you are not very close to the person that you are talking to. For example, “你好嗎” (Nǐ Hǎo ‘Ma) is sometimes used when you first meet a person or when you haven’t heard from that person for a long time. It might be a little unnatural to say “你好嗎” (Nǐ Hǎo ‘Ma) to your friends.
To respond, you can say:
- I am doing fine, and you? – Wǒ Hěn Hǎo, Nǐ Ne? (我很好，你呢？)
- I am not doing so well, because…. – Bú Taì Hǎo, Yīn Weì…. (不太好，因为…/不太好，因為…)
2. How are you recently? – Zueì Jìn Rú Hé Ne (最近如何呢？)
This phrase is often used when you haven’t seen your friend for a while. This is a very commonly used phrase by native speakers. “如何“ means the “how”, and it can be replaced. This phrase is close to “what are you up to ?”, just to check if anything is new with the person to whom you are talking. Since there is a “recently” in the sentence, this expression is seldom used for a person that you first meet.
To respond, you can say:
- I am busy recently – Wǒ Zueì Jìn Hěn Máng ( 我最近很忙 )
- I am very {happy} recently – Wǒ Zueì Jìn Hěn Kaī Xīn ( 我最近很 {开心} / 我最近很 {開心} )
- You can replace {开心} ( happy ) with other adjectives that describe your mood and condition. Some commonly used adjectives are: Busy-“忙碌”( máng lù ), Sad-”难过“(nán gùo), Doing well-”不错“ ( bú cuo )
3. What are you up to recently? – Zuì Jìn Zaì Máng Shé Mẹ Ne？(最近在忙什么呢？/ 最近在忙什麼呢？）
If you have already known how your friends are doing recently and want to deepen the conversation by asking them what they are involved in, this is the sentence to use. “忙“（máng) means busy, thus the sentence is used to ask people what they have been busy within their lives.
To respond, you can say:
- I am busy working recently- Wǒ Zuì Jìn Máng Zhe Gōng Zuò (我最近忙着工作/我最近忙著工作 )
- I am busy studying recently- Wǒ Zuì Jìn Máng Zhe Dú Shū ( 我最近忙着读书/我最近忙著讀書 )
4. Hello everyone – Dà Jīa Hǎo(大家好)
This is the sentence you need to know when you are speaking to a group of people or in public, for example, when you walk into a party.
Just like “你好“(nǐ hǎo), this expression might sound distant or unnatural to say to your close friends. But this expression is useful when you first meet a group of people, or to make a speech to a group of people.
To respond, you can say:
- Hello- Nǐ Hǎo (你好）
- If you are an attendant of a speech, there is no need to respond. If a person says this to a group of people that includes you, just simply reply with “Nǐ Hǎo” (你好).
5. Hello teacher – Lǎo Shī Hǎo ( 老师好 / 老師好 ）
In Chinese culture, it is common to call people by their title in school or the workplace. When the person is older or has more power than you, when you say hello to them, it is obligated to use their title instead of ”you”(你/nǐ).
Other commonly used title are: Boss- Lǎo bǎn( 老板 / 老闆 ), Manager- Jīng lǐ ( 经理 / 經理 ）
Thus, if you are learning Chinese with a Chinese tutor or a teacher, don’t forget to say hello to them with this expression!
To respond, you can say:
- Hello- Nǐ Hǎo (你好）
- In this scenario, the common response from the teacher is usually a simple Nǐ Hǎo (你好). If you are the teacher or the boss, you can also use Nǐ Hǎo (你好) to respond!
6. Is everything going well? – Yí Qìe Shùn Lì Ma (一切顺利吗？/ 一切順利嗎？）
You can use this expression if you are meeting your friends regularly, and you know what is happening in their lives, and just want to check if everything is ok or if they need your help.
It is also commonly used when your friends started something new, for example, a new business or a new program, and you want to make sure that the new thing is going well for them.
To respond, you can say:
- It has been going well recently, I have been doing… – Zuì Jìn Dōu Hěn Shùn Lì, Wǒ Zaì Zùo (最近都很顺利，我在做… / 最近都很順利，我在做…)
- It has not been going well recently, because… – Zuì Jìn Bú Taì Shùn Lì, Yīn Weí…. (最近不太顺利，因为… / 最近不太順利，因為…)
7. Is everything fine? – Haí Hǎo Ma (还好吗？/ 還好嗎？）
This is a useful expression when you feel that your friend is not doing very well. When you think your friend looks sick or depressed, you can start the conversation with this expression to show your concern.
It is not often used by someone who looks happy, and it is also sometimes used in a sarcastic way when your friend is acting crazy.
To respond, you can say:
- I am fine, nothing (bad) is going on – Haí Hǎo Ā, Meí Shén Me Shì (还好啊，沒什麼事 ）
- not really well, because…– Bú Tai Hǎo, Yīn Weí….(不太好，因为…/ 不太好，因為…）
8. Have you eaten? – Nǐ Chī Fàn Le Ma (你吃饭了吗？/ 你吃飯了嗎？）
In Chinese culture, there is a tradition that when we meet someone, we ask them if they have already eaten or not. Thus, when you meet a friend during lunch or dinner time, you can use this expression to show your care and say hi to them! Usually, when a friend says that they haven’t eaten yet, an option of going for a meal or a snack should be provided.
To respond, you can say:
- Yes, I have. – Ēn, Wǒ Chī Le (嗯，我吃了 / 嗯，我吃了)
- Not Yet – Haí Meí ( 还没 / 還沒 ）
9. Are you full? – Nǐ Chī Bǎo Le Ma? (你吃饱了吗？/你吃飽了嗎？）
This expression is the same as the last one. A slight difference might be that it is more often used after mealtimes. But overall, it is an alternative way to ask someone if they have had their meals.
Also, when you are having a meal with your friend, you can also use this expression to check if they are done with the meal.
To respond, you can say:
- Yes I am full – Èn, Wǒ Chī Bǎo Le (嗯，我吃饱了/嗯，我吃飽了)
- Not Yet – Haí Meí (还没/還沒）
10. Where are you going? – Nǐ Yào Qù Nǎ Lǐ? (你要去哪里？/你要去哪裡？）
After having some chit-chat with your friends, or if you run into them, you can use this expression to ask them what their plans are.
This expression is also often used with time. The most commonly used tine adjectives are now- “现在“ (xìanzaì), later- “等一下” (děngyíxìa). Simply put the time adjectives after “Nǐ” to modify your sentence.
To respond, you can say:
- I’m heading to …- Wǒ Yào Qù.. (我要去… )
11. What are you doing today? – Nǐ Jīn Tīan Yào Zùo Shén Me Ne? (你今天要做什么呢？/你今天要做什麼呢？）
This is also a way to ask your friends about their plans. You can also use this expression to start a conversation when you want to ask your friends out.
Just like the previous expression, you can use other time adjectives such as now- “现在“ (xìanzaì), later- “等一下” (děngyíxìa) other than “today”(今天), according to your content.
To respond, you can say:
- I plan to do … – Wǒ Jīn Tīan Dǎ Sùan Yaò… (我今天打算要… )
- I don’t have any plans today- Wǒ Jīn Tīan Meí Yǒu Jì Hùa (我今天没有计划/我今天沒有計畫)
12. How is your health (status) recently? – Shēn Tǐ Haí Hǎo Ma? (身体还好吗？身體還好嗎？)
When you are having conversations with a friend that you know who recently got ill, this is a useful expression to show your care towards them.
Although in English, it is not very often to ask other people about their health, it is not considered very offensive when you talk about health in Chinese culture.
To respond, you can say:
- I am at a healthy status recently- Wǒ Zuì Jìn Shēn Tǐ Dōu Hǎo (我最近身体都好/我最近身體都好）
- I am tired recently -Wǒ Zuì Jìn Hěn Leì (我最近很累)
13. How are you today? – Jīn Tīan Gùo De Hǎo Ma? (今天过的好吗？/今天過得好嗎？）
This expression is usually used when you are starting a conversation later in the day, with someone you are not too close to, for example, when you bump into your neighbor in the evening.
To make the sentence more casual, you can say “Jīn Tīan Zěn Me Yàng? (今天怎么样)”. This shares the same meaning, and it is more often used by someone who you are familiar with.
To respond, you can say:
- I’ve had a great day today- Wǒ Jīn Tīan Gùo De Hěn Hǎo (我今天过得很好/我今天過得很好)
- I had a normal day today- Wǒ Jīn Tīan Gùo De Hěn Pǔ Tōng (我今天过得很普通/我今天過得很普通 )
- Other adjectives you can use are: “Bú Cùo(不错)-Quite alright, “Hěn Zāo”(很糟)-terrible.
14. What’s new recently? – Zuì Jìn Yǒu Shén Me Xīn Xīan Shì? (最近有什么新鲜事？/最近有什麼新鮮事？）
If you have not caught up with your friends for some time, you can use this expression to update their latest news.
The word “新鲜事“ (Xīn Xīan Shì) is a casual way to say something new, thus this expression is not suitable to use with elder people or your manager.
To respond, you can say:
- I went travelling in Taiwan last month- Wǒ Shàng Ge Yùe Qù Taí Wān Wán (我上个月去台湾玩/我上個月去台灣玩)
- I am attending triathlon recently- Wǒ Zuì Jìn Zaì Cháng Shì Tǐe Rén Sān Xìang (我最近在尝试铁人三项/我最近在嘗試鐵人三項的運動)
15. What have you been doing recently? – Zuì Jìn Zaì Gàn ma? (最近在干嘛？/最近在幹嘛？）
This is an alternative way to catch up with your friends. Compared to the last expression, this is more used, and it also sounds more casual.
The word “干嘛”(Gàn ma) is a spoken language to use when you ask someone what are they doing, thus it is inappropriate to use on formal occasions. Instead, you can use “做什么” (Zùo Shén Me) to replace “干嘛”(Gàn ma)
To respond, you can say:
- I have started to learn {cooking} recently- Wǒ Zuì Jìn Kaī Shǐ Xúe Zhǔ Fàn (我最近开始学{煮饭}/我最近開始學{煮飯} )
- You can replace cooking with other activities such as Chinese-”中文“(Zhōng Wén), Work out-”健身“Jìan Shēn)
- I have been watching this show recently- Wǒ Zuì Jìn Kaī Shǐ Kàn Zhè Ge Xīn Jíe Mǜ (我最近开始看这个新节目/我最近開始看這個新節目)
How are you in Chinese: the Answers
| English | Pinyin | Simplified Chinese | Traditional Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|
| I am doing fine, and you? | Wǒ Hěn Hǎo, Nǐ Ne? | 我很好，你呢？ | 我很好，你呢？ |
| I am not doing so well, because…. | Bú Taì Hǎo, Yīn Weì. | 不太好，因为… | 不太好，因為… |
| I am busy recently | Wǒ Zueì Jìn Hěn Máng | 我最近很忙 | 我最近很忙 |
| I am very {happy} recently | Wǒ Zueì Jìn Hěn Kaī Xīn | 我最近很{开心} | 我最近很{開心} |
| I am busy working recently | Wǒ Zuì Jìn Máng Zhe Gōng Zuò | 我最近忙著工作 | 我最近忙著工作 |
| I am busy studying recently | Wǒ Zuì Jìn Máng Zhe Dú Shū | 我最近忙着读书 | 我最近忙著讀書 |
| It has been going well recently, I have been doing… | Zuì Jìn Dōu Hěn Shùn Lì, Wǒ Zaì Zùo | 最近都很顺利，我在做… | 最近都很順利，我在做… |
| It has not been going well recently, because… | Zuì Jìn Bú Taì Shùn Lì, Yīn Weí…. | 最近不太顺利，因为… | 最近不太順利，因為… |
| I am fine, nothing (bad) is going on | Haí Hǎo Ā, Meí Shén Me Shì | 还好啊，没什么事 | 還好啊，沒什麼事 |
| not really well, because… | Bú Tai Hǎo, Yīn Weí…. | 不太好，因为… | 不太好，因為… |
| Yes, I have (eaten) | Ēn, Wǒ Chī Le | 恩，我吃了 | 恩，我吃了 |
| Not Yet | Haí Meí | 还没 | 還沒 |
| Yes I am full | Èn, Wǒ Chī Bǎo Le | 恩，我吃饱了 | 恩，我吃飽了 |
| I’m heading to … | Wǒ Yào Qù.. | 我要去… | 我要去… |
| I don’t have any plans today | Wǒ Jīn Tīan Meí Yǒu Jì Hùa | 我今天没有计划 | 我今天沒有計畫 |
| I am alright recently. | Wǒ Zuì Jìn Shēn Tǐ Dōu Hǎo | 我最近身体都好 | 我最近身體都好 |
| I am tired recently | Wǒ Zuì Jìn Hěn Leì | 我最近很累 | 我最近很累 |
| I’ve had a great day today | Wǒ Jīn Tīan Gùo De Hěn Hǎo | 我今天过得很好 | 我今天過得很好 |
| I had a normal day today | Wǒ Jīn Tīan Gùo De Hěn Pǔ Tōng | 我今天过得很普通 | 我今天過得很普通 |
| What’s new recently | Zuì Jìn Yǒu Shén Me Xīn Xīan Shì | 最近有什么新鲜事 | 最近有什麼新鮮事 |
| I went travelling in Taiwan last month | Wǒ Shàng Ge Yùe Qù Taí Wān Wán | 我上个月去台湾玩 | 我上個月去台灣玩 |
| I am attending triathlon recently | Wǒ Zuì Jìn Zaì Cháng Shì Tǐe Rén Sān Xìang | 我最近在尝试铁人三项 | 我最近在嘗試鐵人三項的運動 |
| I have started to learn {cooking} recently | Wǒ Zuì Jìn Kaī Shǐ Xúe Zhǔ Fàn | 我最近开始学{煮饭} | 我最近開始學{煮飯} |
| I have been watching this show recently | Wǒ Zuì Jìn Kaī Shǐ Kàn Zhè Ge Xīn Jíe Mǜ | 我最近开始看这个新节目 | 我最近開始看這個新節目 |
Tips on Greeting in the Chinese Culture
- Don’t give someone white flowers, white flowers are only for funerals
- Don’t give someone white envelopes, they are only for funerals
- Don’t give clocks as gifts. Because the Chinese pronunciation for “送鐘” (giving clock) relates to death.
- Don’t point at people. it is very disrespectful to point at someone in the Chinese culture
- Don’t use first names to call others. Use “Mrs.” or “Mr.” with their last name. First names are for close friends and family.
How do you greet in Chinese?
The most common way is to say “你好 ni3 hao3”, which means “Hello” or “Hi.”
How do you reply to Ni Hao?
Simply reply the person “Ni Hao” will do.
How do you say “I’m fine” in Chinese?
The most direct and common way will be “我很好 wo3 hen2 hao3”.
Say How are you in Chinese to Chinese people!
Knowing how to open up a conversation is always an important part when you want to master a language.
In this article, we have introduced some different ways to say “hi” in Chinese. You can use them to catch up with your friends, in daily lives in also we have introduced some formal ways to use in particular occasions. Also, we have introduced some taboos in Chinese culture. Although it is now a globalization world, it is still important to respect other cultures.
Now that we have learned how to say “hi” if you want to talk about more topics in Chinese, online Chinese courses will be good materials for you to widen your topic of conversation. You can also learn how to write Chinese characters, as it is essential to your Chinese learning journey.
If you are interested in learning Chinese, check out AmazingTalker and book your Chinese session! Good luck!
How do you ask «How are you?» in Chinese – and how do you reply? Whether you’re feeling good, bad, or something in between, you’ll know how to explain after this free Rocket Chinese audio lesson.
No matter if you’re traveling to a Mandarin Chinese-speaking country or getting to know people closer to home, these words and phrases are essential for your Chinese language survival kit. By the end of this lesson you’ll know the formal and informal ways to for ask people how they are to ensure you make a good first impression. And just in case you need to apologize… you’ll learn how to say sorry in Chinese as well!
Feeling confident with these basic Chinese words and phrases will make such a positive difference to your experiences with Chinese people. Remember, a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet!
Resources for further reading:
- Top tips for learning Chinese online
- Beginners Chinese: where to get started
Pronouncing «how are you?» in Chinese
Here are some common questions that follow a greeting.
For friends or family:
Practice Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record
Rocket Record lets you perfect your Chinese pronunciation. Just listen to the native speaker audio and then use the microphone icon to record yourself. Once you’re done, you’ll get a score out of 100 on your pronunciation and can listen to your own audio playback. (Use a headset mic for best results.) Problems? Click here!
How is it going recently?
For strangers or more senior persons:
What do you say if someone asks you one of these questions?
A common follow-up question is, “And you?”, Nǐ zěnme yàng？ (你怎么样？) or in short and informal terms nǐ ne？(你 呢？)
If someone tells you that he or she is not feeling well you could say the following…
If someone is feeling great you might want to say the following…
It is true that in most languages in the world, when people hear some bad news from friends, they normally say “I’m sorry”, e.g. to someone who is sick. Yet in Chinese, people only say the phrase “I’m sorry” when they have done something wrong.
It is still important to know how to say it in Chinese, because everybody makes mistakes, don’t they? Some people even believe that the most important phrase in any language is how to say you’re sorry! Others disagree. They say that there are THREE important phrases that you absolutely must know in any language. They are:
Could you please help me?
Hmm, I can’t think of a situation in which I’d need to use all three, but I’ll leave it to your imagination! That’s it for today’s lesson.
If you want more lessons on Chinese salutations then I recommend that you check out the following:
- How to pronounce different Chinese greetings.
- Using polite Chinese words will help in your travels.
- Saying thank you in Chinese.
下次见！ Xiàcì jiàn!
Lin Ping: Rocket Chinese
Make It Stick With Rocket Reinforcement
Reinforce your learning from this lesson with the Rocket Reinforcement activities!
Author Alexander Lewis
Posted Jan 16, 2023
Reads 272
Chinese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world today, and it’s full of rich culture and traditions. If you want to know how to say «How are you» in Chinese, then you’ve come to the right place!In mainland China,中国 (zhōng guó) and Taiwan台湾 (tái wān), the correct way of asking someone ‘how are you?’ is: 你好吗？(nǐ hǎo ma). This phrase literally translates to ‘are you well?’, which conveys a more polite sentiment compared to other ways of asking how one is doing in English. In Hong Kong香港(xiāng gǎng) as well as southern areas地区 (de qū), a related expression that has different tones and formality levels: 好嗎？(hǎo ma). It has similar meaning but with less politeness level than 你好吗.
In many situations like greeting business partners or strangers旅人(lyū rén), using this will be more appropriate than saying “hello” in English. In other words, it creates a better impression because it expresses a politeness towards whoever we’re speaking too – let alone making ourselves easier understood by native Chinese speakers!Remembering these helpful phrases for standard greetings may even help build stronger relationships over time!
Related Read: How to say that in chinese?
What is ‘hello’ in Chinese?
Hello is one of the most commonly used words in any language. In Chinese, there are a couple of different ways to say hello. The most common way is 你好 (nǐ hǎo), which basically translates to “how are you?” and implies that you don’t know the person too well. This phrase can be used interchangeably with 您好 (nín hǎo) if you’re addressing someone senior or older than you, as it suggests a greater level of deference.
Another way to say hello in Chinese is 哈喽 (hā lóu). This phrase is more informal and often only said between friends or people who already know each other well. A variation on this phrase is 嘿咻(hēi xiū), which includes a more playful intonation — usually something young people use when addressing their peers or even parents. If you want to add an extra bit of emphasis when saying hello, try using 嗨(hāi). Though it literally means “hi” and can also be used in greeting someone else goodbye, emphasizing this word suggests great enthusiasm and warmth when meeting up with someone new!
Whichever form of greeting they use in Chinese, keeping consistent eye contact while speaking will emphasize your sincerity toward the other person — something that’s highly valued within Chinese culture! As long as one shows respect toward their counterpart through body language and tone, they should feel comfortable saying any of these words soon enough 
Related Read: How do you say how are you in chinese?
How do you say ‘thank you’ in Chinese?
Thank you is an essential part of our everyday language so it’s important to know how to express gratitude in Chinese. “Thank you” in Chinese can be said two different ways depending on the formality and politeness desired.
The most standard way to say “thank you” in Mandarin Chinese is 谢谢 (Xièxiè). This phrase translates as “thanks” or “thank you”, and conveys basic appreciation or gratitude. It can be used regardless of whether the speaker knows the person they are giving thanks to or not; it even works when expressing appreciation for a gift or kind act from someone who might not understand Mandarin.
In more formal settings, such as when giving thanks for large favors, donations, awards, or thanking someone with a higher social status than your own (elderly people or authorities), the phrase 感谢 (Gǎnxiè) should be used instead of 谢谢. This transliterates literally as «feeling/felicitious/appreciative Thank», which puts emphasis on your grateful attitude more than simple 谢谢 does.
No matter how small an act of kindness may be, remembering how to say thank you in Chinese will show people that their words and actions are appreciated and respected!
Related Read: How to say what are you doing in chinese?
How do you say ‘good morning’ in Chinese?
Greeting someone in another language is always a great way to show respect and an appreciation for the culture of that country. Saying ‘Good Morning’ in Chinese is no different!
In Chinese, when wishing someone a good morning, you would say “早上好” (zǎo shang hǎo). This phrase can be used in both formal and casual situations.
When greeting friends or family, you could take this one step further by adding on “你好吗？” (nǐ hǎo ma) which translates to ‘How are you?.’ This addition will help the conversation progress into further discussion about each person’s day.
It is also polite in some situations to add on the name of whoever it is that you are greeting — for example if saying ‘Good Morning’ to your Uncle Joe it would be appropriate to finish with 牛牛，早上好 (niú niú zǎo shàng hǎo). To make sure that everyone around realizes who the greeting was directed at Joe could also add an additional phrase such as 您好 (nín hाō).
Now that you know how to say ‘Good Morning’ in Chinese try it out next time and show off your language skills!
Related Read: How do you say how are you doing in chinese?
How do you say ‘good evening’ in Chinese?
Greetings are an important part of any conversation, and there are many different ways to say «Good Evening» in Chinese. Depending on the context, the exact phrase you choose to use might differ.
In Mandarin Chinese, saying «Good Evening» is easy: 你好晚上 (Nǐ hǎo wǎnshang). This is a formal way of saying «good evening,» so it is commonly used with people you don’t know very well or in formal situations.
For a more casual expression for friends and family, try 晚安 (wǎn’ān). It literally means «good night,» but this expression can also be used informally to say «good evening.» You can think of it as comparable to non-formal English expressions like “see ya later” or “catch ya later!”
If you want an even more informal version that’s great to use among close friends, try 再见啦 (ziàijiànlā). This could be translated as “bye bye now!” Although this phrase is more commonly used when saying goodbye rather than hello in the evening, using it as such expresses friendly familiarity.
No matter which way you chose to say it–whether through the more formal Mandarin lines or with something less structured–expressing your good wishes at the end of day will guarantee positive vibes all around!
Related Read: How do you say hi in chinese?
How do you say ‘goodbye’ in Chinese?
China is a nation filled with rich culture and diverse customs. From the way people communicate, to their dining habits, everything has its own charm. While many of us may already be familiar with how to say “hello” in Chinese (ni hao!), this doesn’t quite answer the question on how to say “goodbye” in Chinese.
If you’re wondering how to say goodbye in Chinese there are several phrases you can use depending on who or what you are addressing, and the situation you are in. Most commonly used for friends and family, when parting ways or bidding farewell for now is «再见» (zai jian), which translates directly as “see you again». Alternatively, if someone is sending someone else off who they won’t likely encounter again soon may opt for something like «拜拜» (bai bai) which translates more exactly as ‘bye bye’.
The appropriate response when being thanked also serves as an informal form of saying goodbye which can be as simple as «不客气» (bu ke qi) meaning ‘You’re welcome’ or 不用谢 (bu yong xie) translated literally to ‘don’t need thank’.
Furthermore depending on regional dialects one might even find themselves saying a variety of odd phrases such as 再会之后再交代(zai hui zhi hou zai jiao dai), which less poetically translates into ‘Let’s explain it when we meet later.’ That’s right—in some regions saying goodbye could take much longer than most would expect!
No matter where your next adventure takes you though, no matter what language they speak far away from home remember that there will always be plenty of strength left behind by those whose paths have crossed yours previously. Saying goodbye can sometimes feel particularly painful—but perhaps that pain indicates that where we end up may well be deeper than our starting point ever was?
Related Read: Where to buy chinese sausage?
How do you express ‘Have a nice day’ in Chinese?
If you’re looking to show a bit of kindness and friendship in Chinese, then you can easily express ‘Have a nice day’ with the phrase «Hao yi tian!». This simple phrase literally translates to ‘good one day’ and is an effective way to wish someone a great day ahead. The extra two words, «Hao» (Good) and «Tian» (Day), make the phrase sound warmer, more sincere and considered but will still be understood within the context of ‘Have a nice day’.
You may also hear it being used as ‘Xin Hao Yi Tian’ – Here ‘Xin’ is added at the start to mean new or fresh — giving it an even more positive flair! In this case, each word carries its own weight but when spelt together they create a wonderful expression of appreciation that could be used with friends. So if you ever find yourself wishing someone well in Chinese, why not use either ‘Hao Yi Tian’ or “Xin Hao Yi Tian” for maximum effect!
Related Read: What does creed say in chinese?
FAQs
How do you spell Hello in Chinese?
你好 (Nǐ hǎo)
How do you Say Hello in Chinese language?
你好 (Nǐ hǎo)
How to write Hello in Chinese language?
你好 (Nǐ hǎo)
How do you Say Hello in chinse?
你好 (Nǐ hǎo)
What does Hello mean in Chinese?
您好（nín ha͘o）
How to say hi in Chinese language?
嗨（hāi）
How to write "Hello" in Chinese?
你好 (ni hao)
What is the Chinese translation for ‘ Hello ‘?
你好 (ni hao)
How to say hello everyone in Chinese?
大家好 (dàjiā hǎo)
How do you say Congratulations in Chinese?
恭喜 (Gōngxǐ)
How do you say comfortable in Chinese?
舒服 (Shūfú)