10 Ways to Say Hello in Chinese
Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world, with more than 1.3 billion native speakers. However, Chinese is not a single language, but a family of languages that share a common script, but have different pronunciations, grammars, and vocabularies. Within this family, there are at least seven main varieties or dialects, with Mandarin and Cantonese being the best known and most widespread
If you want to learn Chinese or travel to China, it is important that you know how to say hello in Mandarin Chinese. But how do you say hello in Chinese? The answer is not so simple, as it depends on the dialect you speak, the context you are in, and the level of formality you want to express. In this article, we are going to teach you 10 ways to say hello in Chinese, from hello in Mandarin to hello in Cantonese, so that you can communicate with the Chinese in a proper and respectful way.
1. Nǐ hǎo (你好): the standard way to say hello in Mandarin Chinese
The most common and universal way to say hello in Chinese is "nǐ hǎo" (你好), which is roughly pronounced "ni hao". This phrase can be used to greet a single person or a group of people, in any situation and at any time of the day.
"Nǐ hǎo" literally means "you well" or "how well?", and is made up of two words: "nǐ" (你), which is the personal pronoun "you", and "hǎo" (好), which means "good" or "good". By saying "nǐ hǎo", you are expressing a desire for well-being towards the other person, or asking about their condition.
It is important to pay attention to the tones when pronouncing this phrase, as Chinese is a tonal language, and the tone of the voice can change the meaning of the words. "Nǐ" and "hǎo" have the third tone, which is represented by a line curved downwards and then upwards. However, when two words of the third tone are put together, the first changes to the second tone, which is represented by a straight line upwards. Therefore, when saying "nǐ hǎo," you should raise the pitch of your voice at first, and then lower it and raise it again.
2. Nín hǎo (您好): the formal and respectful way to say hello in Mandarin Chinese
If you want to be more polite and formal when greeting someone in Mandarin, you can use "nín hǎo" (您好), which is roughly pronounced "nin hao." This phrase is used to greet older people, strangers, or those who have a position of authority or prestige, such as teachers, bosses, or clients.
"Nín hǎo" has the same meaning as "nǐ hǎo", but uses the pronoun "nín" (您), which is a form of honorific address that is equivalent to "you" in English. By using "nín hǎo," you're showing respect and deference toward the other person, and creating a social or personal distance.
The tones of "nín hǎo" are the same as those of "nǐ hǎo", as "nín" also has the third tone, which changes to the second tone when it is followed by another word of the third tone. Therefore, you should pronounce "nín hǎo" with the same tonal pattern as "nǐ hǎo."
3. Nǐ hǎo ma? (你好吗?): the way to ask how you are in Mandarin
After greeting someone in Mandarin, it's common to ask them how they're doing or how they're doing. To do this, you can use the phrase "nǐ hǎo ma?" (你好吗?), which is roughly pronounced "ni hao ma". This phrase can be translated as "are you okay?" or "how are you?".
"Nǐ hǎo ma?" is formed by adding the particle "ma" (吗) to the end of "nǐ hǎo". This particle indicates that it is a question, and does not change the meaning of the previous words. "Ma" has the neutral tone, which is represented by a horizontal line, and is pronounced in a soft, unemphasized voice.
When answering this question, you can use the words "hǎo" (好) or "bù hǎo" (不好), which mean "good" or "not good," respectively. You can also use other more specific expressions, such as "hěn hǎo" (很好, very good), "mǎ mǎ hū hū" (马马虎虎, regular / maso menos), or "bù tài hǎo" (不太好, not very good).
4. Nǐmén hǎo (你们好): the way to greet several people in Mandarin
If you want to greet several people at the same time in Mandarin, you can use the phrase "nǐmén hǎo" (你们好), which is roughly pronounced "ni-men hao." This phrase can be translated as "hello everyone" or "hello to you".
"Nǐmén hǎo" is formed by adding the particle "mén" (们) after "nǐ" (你). This particle indicates the plural, and converts the pronoun "you" into "you" or "you." By saying "nǐmén hǎo," you're greeting a group of people collectively, without distinguishing between individuals.
The tones of "nǐmén hǎo" are as follows: "nǐ" has the third tone, which connects with "mén", which has the second tone. "Hǎo" also has the third tone. Therefore, when you say "nǐmén hǎo," you should lower and raise the pitch of your voice at the beginning, and then lower it again and raise it at the end.
5. Dàjiā hǎo (大家好): the way to greet an audience in Mandarin
If you want to greet an audience or a large audience in Mandarin, you can use the phrase "dàjiā hǎo" (大家好), which is roughly pronounced "da-jia hao." This phrase can be translated as "hello everyone" or "good morning everyone".
"Dàjiā hǎo" literally means "everyone good" or "how well everyone?", and is composed of two words: "dàjiā" (大家), which means "everyone" or "everyone", and "hǎo" (好), which means "good" or "good". By saying "dàjiā hǎo," you're expressing a cordial and friendly greeting to a large number of people, or starting a presentation or speech.
The tones of "dàjiā hǎo" are as follows: "dà" has the fourth tone, which is represented by a straight line downwards, and is pronounced with a loud, descending voice. "Jiā" has the first tone, which is represented by a horizontal line, and is pronounced in a loud, steady voice. "Hǎo" has the third tone, which is represented by a curved line downward and then upward. Therefore, when pronouncing "dàjiā hǎo," you should lower the pitch of your voice sharply at first, keep it high in the middle, and then lower and raise it at the end.
6. Wǒ hǎo (我好): the way to respond to a greeting in Mandarin
When someone greets you in Mandarin, it's polite and natural to respond with a similar or equivalent greeting. For example, if someone says "nǐ hǎo" (你好), you can respond with "nǐ hǎo" (你好) or "nǐ hǎo ma?" (你好吗?). However, there is another way to respond to a greeting in Mandarin, which is "wǒ hǎo" (我好), which is roughly pronounced "wo hao". This phrase can be translated as "me well" or "I am fine".
"Wǒ hǎo" is formed by substituting the pronoun "nǐ" (你) with the pronoun "wǒ" (我), which means "I" or "me". By saying "wǒ hǎo," you're informing the other person of your status or condition, without asking about theirs. This way of answering is more common among friends or family, who already know each other well and do not need to ask polite questions.
The tones of "wǒ hǎo" are as follows: "wǒ" has the third tone, which connects with "hǎo", which also has the third tone. Therefore, when pronouncing "wǒ hǎo," you should lower and raise the pitch of your voice twice, following the same pattern as "nǐ hǎo."
7. Néih hóu (你好): the standard way to say hello in Cantonese Chinese
Cantonese is another of the most important and popular dialects of Chinese, which is mainly spoken in Hong Kong, Macau, Guangdong, and other regions of southern China. Cantonese has many differences from Mandarin, both in pronunciation and vocabulary and grammar. However, it also shares some similarities, such as writing and some basic expressions.
The most common and universal way to say hello in Cantonese Chinese is "néih hóu" (你好), which is roughly pronounced "nay ho". This phrase can be used to greet a single person or a group of people, in any situation and at any time of the day.
"Néih hóu" has the same meaning and writing as "nǐ hǎo" in Mandarin, but is pronounced differently. This is because Cantonese has six tones, instead of four, and each tone is represented by a number from 1 to 6. "Néih" has the second tone, which is represented by the number 2, and is pronounced in a high, descending voice. "Hóu" has the fourth tone, which is represented by the number 4, and is pronounced in a low, rising voice. Therefore, when saying "néih hóu," you should lower the pitch of your voice at the beginning, and then raise it at the end.
8. Néih hóu ma? (你好嗎?): the way to ask how you are in Cantonese
After greeting someone in Cantonese, it is also common to ask them how they are doing or how they are doing. To do this, you can use the phrase "néih hóu ma?" (你好嗎?), which is roughly pronounced "nay ho ma". This phrase can be translated as "are you okay?" or "how are you?".
"Néih hóu ma?" is formed by adding the particle "ma" (嗎) to the end of "néih hóu". This particle indicates that it is a question, and does not change the meaning of the previous words. "Ma" has the third tone, which is represented by the number 3, and is pronounced in a medium, flat voice.
When answering this question, you can use the words "hóu" (好) or "m̀h hóu" (唔好), which mean "good" or "not good", respectively. You can also use other more specific expressions, such as "hóu hóu" (好好, very good), "jūngyìh" (中意, regular), or "m̀h tàih hóu" (唔太好, not very good).
9. Néihdeih hóu (你哋好): the way to greet several people in Cantonese
If you want to greet several people at the same time in Cantonese, you can use the phrase "néihdeih hóu" (你哋好), which is roughly pronounced "nay-dei ho." This phrase can be translated as "hello everyone" or "hello to you".
"Néihdeih hóu" is formed by adding the particle "deih" (哋) after "néih" (你). This particle indicates the plural, and converts the pronoun "you" into "you" or "you." By saying "néihdeih hóu", you are greeting a group of people collectively, without distinguishing between individuals.
The tones of "néihdeih hóu" are as follows: "néih" has the second tone, which connects with "deih", which has the sixth tone. "Hóu" has the fourth tone. Therefore, when pronouncing "néihdeih hóu," you should lower the pitch of your voice at first, keep it low in the middle, and then raise it at the end.
10. Dàihgā hóu (大家好): The Cantonese Way to Greet an Audience
If you want to greet an audience or a large audience in Cantonese, you can use the phrase "dàihgā hóu" (大家好), which is roughly pronounced "dai-ga ho". This phrase can be translated as "hello everyone" or "good morning everyone".
"Dàihgā hóu" has the same meaning and writing as "dàjiā hǎo" in Mandarin, but is pronounced differently. This is because Cantonese has some phonetic differences from Mandarin, such as aspiration of some consonants and nasalization of some vowels.
The tones of "dàihgā hóu" are as follows: "dàih" has the first tone, which is represented by the number 1, and is pronounced in a high, flat voice. "Gā" has the first tone, which is represented by the number 1, and is pronounced in a high, flat voice. "Hóu" has the fourth tone, which is represented by the number 4, and is pronounced in a low, rising voice. Therefore, when pronouncing "dàihgā hóu", you should keep the pitch of your voice high at the beginning, and then lower and raise it at the end.
Review + Bonus
How do you say "hello" in Chinese?
"你好" (Nǐ hǎo) is the most common form and can be used at any time.
Are there formal and informal ways to greet?
Yes, in this article we looked at 10 ways. for a formal greeting you can use "您好" (Nín hǎo), and for an informal one, "嗨" (Hāi) or "哈喽" (Hā Lóu) are appropriate.
How do you say goodbye in Chinese?
The most commonly used phrases for saying goodbye are "拜拜" (Bài bài) for "Goodbye", "再见" (Zài jiàn) which also means "Goodbye", and "明天见" (Míng tiān jiàn) for "See you tomorrow". Remember to visit our article on 7 ways to say goodbye in Chinese.
Conclusion
As we've explored in this article, the initial greeting in any language is crucial, and Chinese is no exception. With a diversity of dialects and levels of formality, how hello is said in China can vary significantly. From the hearty "你好" (nǐ hǎo) in Mandarin, to the friendly "哈囉" (hā luō) in Cantonese, each expression reflects a rich cultural tapestry.
By learning how to say hello in Mandarin Chinese or other dialects, you're not only acquiring a useful phrase, but also a piece of a people's identity and customs. "你好" is not just a greeting; Its meaning, "you well," embodies a desire for well-being and is a reflection of the courtesy inherent in Chinese culture.
In addition, understanding the meaning of 'ni hao' and how it is used in different contexts can open doors in your social and professional interactions in China. Whether it's a simple "中国你好" (Zhōngguó nǐ hǎo) for a hello in China, or a more casual "嗨" (hāi) for a Chinese hello among friends, each variant has its right place and time.
In short, whether you're saying hello in Mandarin or any other Chinese dialect, you're participating in an age-old tradition of hospitality and respect. We hope that this knowledge will not only serve you in practice, but also inspire a greater interest and appreciation for the Chinese language and culture, which continue to fascinate and connect people around the world.
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