Basic Chinese Greetings

Greetings are always one of the first things one learns when studying a new language. They are the key to ensuring the people you talk to have a good impression of you right from the beginning.

SURVIVAL CHINESE WITH OGE!

A proper Chinese greeting can really open up the gate to a fuller, desired conversation. If you’re looking to taking your Chinese speaking skills to the next level, then knowing the basic greetings will be essential.

In today’s post on Survival Chinese with Oge, we’ll share with you the most basic Chinese words and phrases you should know as a beginner. Even if you know zero Chinese right now, this will be a great starting point to kick start your Mandarin journey.

BASIC CHINESE GREETINGS 1

Exchanging pleasantries

1. Hello

Hello – nǐhǎo (literal translation means “You good!”) – 你好
Hello – nín hǎo (a formal and respectful way for addressing superiors) – 您好 •

2. Thank you

Thanks : xièxiè – 谢谢
Thank you : xièxiè nǐ – 谢谢你
xièxiè nín – 谢谢您

If you want to deeply express your gratitude, you can mention the person’s name : Thank you, Mike : xièxiè nǐ, Mike : 谢谢你 Mike.

3. My pleasure/You are welcome

– bùkèqì : no need to be courteous, its my pleasure : 不客气

– bùyòngxiè – no need to thanks, no worries, its not a big deal : 不用谢

English	Pinyin	Character
How are you?	nǐhǎo ma?	你好吗?
I’m fine, thank you.	wǒ hěn hǎo, xièxiè.	我很好, 谢谢。
And you?	nǐ ne?	你呢？
I’m fine too, thank you.	wǒ yě hěn hǎo, xièxiè.	我也很好，谢谢。
Also, too	yě	也

Basic Greetings 1 on a table

Other words used in a basic greeting dialogue

•Please qǐng 请
•Good bye zàijiàn 再见
•Sorry duìbuqǐ 对不起
•Alright, It’s Okay méiguānxi 没关系

BASIC CHINESE GREETINGS 2

1. Good Morning ´

zǎoshàng hǎo
早上好
This is a greeting made in the early hours of the morning, usually between the time you wake up and 9am.

shàngwǔ hǎo
上午好
This is a greeting made at any time of the morning hours, usually before noon.

2. Good Afternoon

xiàwǔ hǎo
下午好
This greeting is usually said between the hours of 12pm (中午) when you can greet 中午好 to around the hours of 6pm. 12pm is referred to as 中午 which means midday and at midday, you can greet 中午好 zhong wǔ hǎo.

3. Good Evening

wǎnshàng hǎo
晚上好
This greeting is usually said in the evenings when the sun is going down and after the hours of 6pm, usually around office closing hours.

4. Good Night

wǎn’ān
晚安
This is what you say when you want to go to bed.

5. Safe journey

yīlùpíngān
路平安
This is said when a person is about to embark on a journey.

6. Welcome

huānyíng
欢迎
This is said at a person’s arrival to express that he or she is received with gladness.

7. Good Bye

zàijiàn
再见
This is said to bid farewell when a person is departing.

Recap

´Good Morning shàngwǔ hǎo 上午好

´Good Afternoon xiàwǔ hǎo 下午好

´Good Evening      wǎnshàng hǎo 晚上好

´Good Night wǎn’ān 晚安

´Safe journey yīlùpíngān     一路平安

´Welcome huānyíng 欢迎

´Good Bye    zàijiàn    再见