早上好，你好吗
zǎoshang hǎo, nǐ hǎo ma
The phrase "good morning how are you" in Chinese is 早上好，你好吗 (zǎoshang hǎo, nǐ hǎo ma).
This phrase is a polite greeting used in the morning to wish someone well and ask about their current state. The first part, 早上好, is the most common way to say "good morning" formally in Chinese.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of two parts: 早上好 (good morning) and 你好吗 (how are you), which literally translates to "Good morning, you good [question particle]".
Which one should you use?
While 早上好，你好吗 is the full polite version, speakers often use shorter forms in different settings. You may hear 早啊, which is a shortened version of the formal 早上好 or simply 早 in very casual settings to mean "morning" or "good morning".
How do you pronounce it?
zǎoshang hǎo, nǐ hǎo ma
When do people say it?
When someone asks you 你好吗, a common response is 我很好，谢谢 (I am very well, thank you).
Did you know?
- In many parts of China, instead of asking 'how are you', people might greet you by asking if you have eaten yet, using the phrase 你吃了吗.
- The character 好 in 早上好 is a compound word consisting of the symbols for 'woman' and 'child'. Together, they represent the idea of 'good' or 'harmony'.
- In Taiwan, speakers prefer 早安 over 早上好. This phrase literally translates to 'morning peace' rather than 'morning good'.
Example conversation
Two colleagues meet in the office kitchen.
- 志强 Zhiqiang雨婷，早上好，你好吗？Yǔtíng, zǎoshang hǎo, nǐ hǎo ma?Yuting, good morning, how are you?
- 雨婷 Yuting我很好，志强。你呢？Wǒ hěn hǎo, Zhìqiáng. Nǐ ne?I am very well, Zhiqiang. And you?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我也很好，谢谢。Wǒ yě hěn hǎo, xièxie.I am also very well, thank you.
- 雨婷 Yuting我们去开会吧。Wǒmen qù kāihuì ba.Let's go to the meeting.
