How to Say “Hi” in Chinese: A Complete Guide for All Situations
Learning how to greet someone in Chinese is essential for travelers, business professionals, and language learners. The most common way to say “hi” in Mandarin Chinese isΒ “NΗ hΗo” (δ½ ε₯½), but there are many variations depending on the situation, relationship, and formality.
This guide covers:
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Β Basic GreetingsΒ (Formal & Casual)
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Β Greetings for Friends & Family
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Β Time-Specific Greetings
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Β Regional Variations
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Β Pronunciation Tips
1. The Most Common Way to Say “Hi” in Chinese
NΗ hΗo (δ½ ε₯½)Β β “Hello” (Standard & Neutral)
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Usage: Suitable for most situations (formal and informal).
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Breakdown:
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NΗ (δ½ )Β = You
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HΗo (ε₯½)Β = Good
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Example:
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NΗ hΗo! WΗ jiΓ o LΗ HuΓ‘. (δ½ ε₯½οΌζε«ζεγ)Β β “Hello! My name is Li Hua.”
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NΗmen hΗo (δ½ δ»¬ε₯½)Β β “Hello” (Plural)
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Usage: When greeting a group of people.
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Breakdown:
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NΗmen (δ½ δ»¬)Β = You (plural)
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HΗo (ε₯½)Β = Good
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2. Casual & Friendly Ways to Say “Hi”
HΔi / HΔi (ε¨ / εΏ)Β β “Hi” or “Hey” (Very Informal)
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Usage: With close friends, peers, or younger people.
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Example:
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HΔi! ZuΓ¬jΓ¬n zΔnmeyΓ ng? (ε¨οΌζθΏζδΉζ ·οΌ)Β β “Hey! How have you been?”
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NΗ hΗo ma? (δ½ ε₯½εοΌ)Β β “How are you?” (Polite)
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Common Reply:
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WΗ hΔn hΗo, xiΓ¨xie! (ζεΎε₯½οΌθ°’θ°’οΌ)Β β “I’m good, thanks!”
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3. Time-Specific Greetings
| Time of Day | Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | ζ©δΈε₯½ | ZΗoshang hΗo | Good morning |
| Afternoon | δΈεε₯½ | XiΓ wΗ hΗo | Good afternoon |
| Evening | ζδΈε₯½ | WΗnshang hΗo | Good evening |
Example:
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ZΗoshang hΗo! JΔ«ntiΔn tiΔnqΓ¬ zhΔn hΗo. (ζ©δΈε₯½οΌδ»ε€©ε€©ζ°ηε₯½γ)Β β “Good morning! The weather is nice today.”
4. Greetings for Friends & Family
LΗojiΓ (θεΆ)Β β “Long time no see!” (Casual)
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Usage: When meeting an old friend.
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Example:
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LΗojiΓ ! ZuΓ¬jΓ¬n mΓ‘ng shΓ©nme? (θεΆοΌζθΏεΏδ»δΉοΌ)Β β “Long time no see! What have you been up to?”
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ChΔ«le ma? (εδΊεοΌ)Β β “Have you eaten?” (Very Casual)
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Usage: A friendly, common greeting (no need to answer literally).
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Example:
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ChΔ«le ma? YΔ«qΗ qΓΉ chΔ«fΓ n ba! (εδΊεοΌδΈθ΅·ε»ει₯ε§οΌ)Β β “Have you eaten? Letβs grab food together!”
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5. Formal & Business Greetings
NΓn hΗo (ζ¨ε₯½)Β β “Hello” (Respectful)
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Usage: For elders, bosses, or formal situations.
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Breakdown:
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NΓn (ζ¨)Β = Polite “you”
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HΗo (ε₯½)Β = Good
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QΗngwΓ¨n… (θ―·ι…)Β β “May I ask…?” (Polite)
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Usage: When asking for help or directions.
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Example:
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QΗngwΓ¨n, cΓ¨suΗ zΓ i nΗlΗ? (θ―·ιοΌεζε¨εͺιοΌ)Β β “Excuse me, where is the restroom?”
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6. Regional Variations
| Region | Greeting | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cantonese (Hong Kong, Guangdong) | δ½ ε₯½ | NΓ©ih hΓ³u | Hello |
| Taiwanese (Hokkien Influence) | δ½ ε₯½ | LΓ-hΓ³ | Hello |
| Shanghai (Wu Chinese) | δΎ¬ε₯½ | NΓ³ng hΓ³ | Hello |
7. Pronunciation Tips
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NΗ hΗo (δ½ ε₯½)Β β “Nee how” (Not “knee how”)
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Tones Matter!Β Mandarin is tonal:
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NΗ (δ½ )Β = 3rd tone (falling then rising)
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HΗo (ε₯½)Β = 3rd tone (but often flattens in speech)
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Listen & Repeat: Use apps likeΒ HelloChineseΒ orΒ PlecoΒ for practice.
1. Chinese Pinyin Alphabet (Pronunciation Guide)
(Mandarin uses Romanized “Pinyin” for pronunciation)
| Letter | Pronunciation (Like English) | Example (Chinese) |
|---|---|---|
| a | “ah” (father) | ιΏ (Δ) |
| b | “b” (boy) | εδΊ¬ (BΔijΔ«ng) |
| c | “ts” (cats) | θ (cΓ i) |
| d | “d” (dog) | 倧 (dΓ ) |
| e | “uh” (her) | ι₯Ώ (Γ¨) |
| f | “f” (fish) | ι£ζΊ (fΔijΔ«) |
| g | “g” (go) | η (gΗu) |
| h | “h” (hello) | ε₯½ (hΗo) |
| i | “ee” (see) | δΈ (yΔ«) |
| j | “j” (jeep) | εΆ (jiΔ) |
| k | “k” (kite) | εΌ (kΔi) |
| l | “l” (love) | ζ₯ (lΓ‘i) |
| m | “m” (mom) | ε¦ε¦ (mΔma) |
| n | “n” (no) | δ½ (nΗ) |
| o | “o” (or) | ζ (wΗ) |
| p | “p” (pen) | ζε (pΓ©ngyou) |
| q | “ch” (cheese) | θ―· (qΗng) |
| r | “r” (run) | δΊΊ (rΓ©n) |
| s | “s” (sun) | δΈ (sΔn) |
| t | “t” (tea) | 倩 (tiΔn) |
| u | “oo” (food) | δΉ¦ (shΕ«) |
| v | Not used in Mandarin | – |
| w | “w” (water) | ζ (wΗ) |
| x | “sh” (she) | θ°’θ°’ (xiΓ¨xie) |
| y | “y” (yes) | ζ (yΗu) |
| z | “dz” (adz) | εθ§ (zΓ ijiΓ n) |
2. Essential Daily Words
| English | Chinese (ζ±ε) | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | δ½ ε₯½ | NΗ hΗo |
| Thank you | 谒谒 | Xièxie |
| Sorry | ε―ΉδΈθ΅· | DuΓ¬buqΗ |
| Yes | ζ― | ShΓ¬ |
| No | δΈζ― | BΓΉ shΓ¬ |
| Goodbye | εθ§ | ZΓ ijiΓ n |
| Please | θ―· | QΗng |
| Water | ζ°΄ | ShuΗ |
| Food | ι£η© | ShΓwΓΉ |
| Help! | ζε½οΌ | JiΓΉmΓ¬ng! |
3. Daily Communication Sentences
Greetings
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English:Β Good morning!
Chinese:Β ζ©δΈε₯½οΌ
Pinyin:Β ZΗoshang hΗo! -
English:Β How are you?
Chinese:Β δ½ ε₯½εοΌ
Pinyin:Β NΗ hΗo ma?
Basic Questions
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English:Β What is your name?
Chinese:Β δ½ ε«δ»δΉεεοΌ
Pinyin:Β NΗ jiΓ o shΓ©nme mΓngzi? -
English:Β Where is the restroom?
Chinese:Β εζε¨εͺιοΌ
Pinyin:Β CΓ¨suΗ zΓ i nΗlΗ?
Shopping/Eating
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English:Β How much is this?
Chinese:Β θΏδΈͺε€ε°ι±οΌ
Pinyin:Β ZhΓ¨ge duΕshΗo qiΓ‘n? -
English:Β I want to order this.
Chinese:Β ζθ¦ηΉθΏδΈͺγ
Pinyin:Β WΗ yΓ o diΗn zhΓ¨ge.
Emergency Phrases
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English:Β I need help!
Chinese:Β ζιθ¦εΈε©οΌ
Pinyin:Β WΗ xΕ«yΓ o bΔngzhΓΉ! -
English:Β Call the police!
Chinese:Β ε«θ¦ε―οΌ
Pinyin:Β JiΓ o jΗngchΓ‘!
4. Tone Rules (Critical for Pronunciation)
Mandarin hasΒ 4 tones + neutral:
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First tone (Δ)Β β High & flat (e.g., ε¦ mΔ β “mom”)
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Second tone (Γ‘)Β β Rising (e.g., ιΊ» mΓ‘ β “hemp”)
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Third tone (Η)Β β Falls then rises (e.g., 马 mΗ β “horse”)
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Fourth tone (Γ )Β β Sharp fall (e.g., ιͺ mΓ β “scold”)
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Neutral (no mark)Β β Light & quick (e.g., ε ma β question marker)
5. Practice Tips
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Use apps: Duolingo, HelloChinese, Pleco
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Watch shows: With Chinese subtitles (e.g., NetflixβsΒ The Untamed)
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Speak daily: Even simple phrases like 谒谒 (xièxie) help!
People Also Ask
1. How do you say “hello” in Chinese?
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Β Answer:Β The standard greeting isΒ “NΗ hΗo” (δ½ ε₯½). For formal situations, useΒ “NΓn hΗo” (ζ¨ε₯½).
πΒ Source:Β BBC Languages – Chinese Greetings
2. What is the easiest Chinese word to learn?
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Β Answer:Β “HΗo” (ε₯½)Β meaning “good” is simple and versatile (e.g., “NΗ hΗo” = hello, “HΗo ma?” = OK?).
πΒ Source:Β FluentU – Basic Chinese Words
3. How many tones are in Mandarin Chinese?
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Β Answer:Β Mandarin hasΒ 4 tones + 1 neutral tone, which change word meanings (e.g., “mΔ” (mom) vs. “mΓ ” (scold)).
πΒ Source:Β Yale University – Chinese Tones
4. Is “xiΓ¨ xie” the only way to say thank you?
β Β Answer:Β No! Alternatives:
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“GΗnxiΓ¨” (ζθ°’)Β β More formal
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“DuΕxiΓ¨” (ε€θ°’)Β β Southern China/Cantonese
πΒ Source:Β ChineseClass101 – Thank You Phrases
5. Whatβs the difference between “nΗ” and “nΓn”?
β Β Answer:
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“NΗ” (δ½ )Β = Casual “you” (friends)
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“NΓn” (ζ¨)Β = Formal/polite “you” (elders, bosses)
πΒ Source:Β Confucius Institute – Polite Forms
6. How do you say “I love you” in Chinese?
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Β Answer:Β “WΗ Γ i nΗ” (ζη±δ½ )Β β but Chinese culture often shows love through actions rather than words.
πΒ Source:Β The Chairmanβs Bao – Love Phrases
7. Can I learn Chinese without writing characters?
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Β Answer:Β Yes! Start withΒ Pinyin (Romanized Chinese), but learning characters helps long-term fluency.
πΒ Source:Β Hacking Chinese – Pinyin Guide
8. What does “wΗ bΓΉ zhΔ«dΓ o” mean?
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Β Answer:Β It meansΒ “I donβt know” (ζδΈη₯ι)Β β a useful phrase for beginners.
πΒ Source:Β DigMandarin – Essential Phrases
9. How do you say numbers 1-10 in Chinese?
β Β Answer:
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δΈ (yΔ«)
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δΊ (Γ¨r)
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δΈ (sΔn)
… up to 10. ε (shΓ)
πΒ Source:Β ChineseNumbers.guide
10. Why does Chinese have no alphabet?
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Β Answer:Β Chinese usesΒ logographic charactersΒ (each represents meaning/sound) instead of phonetic letters. Pinyin helps learners pronounce them.
πΒ Source:Β MIT – Chinese Writing System
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