What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 问 (wèn), meaning 'to ask' and 候 (hòu), meaning 'to visit or attend to'.
Which one should you use?
问候 is a formal term often used in writing or formal speeches. In contrast, if you want to describe the common colloquial action of saying hello to someone in daily conversation, you would use 打招呼 (dǎ zhāohu).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
问候 is used in formal or written contexts, such as when expressing professional or respectful greetings like 'sending greetings to a teacher'. For a polite way to address elders or superiors, you may use 您好. For informal greetings, you can use 嗨 (hi or hey) or the playful, informal 哟 (hey there!).
How do you pronounce it?
wènhòu
When do people say it?
When greeting someone in the morning, you can use the polite phrase 早上好. To greet someone in the afternoon, use xià wǔ hǎo and for the evening, use wǎn shàng hǎo.
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'hello' to start a conversation, a common way to greet someone in China is to ask 'Have you eaten yet?' (吃了吗, chī le ma?). This shows care for the person's well-being rather than a literal invitation to a meal.
- The character 您 (nín) used in 您好 is created by adding the character for 'heart' (心) to the bottom of the standard word for 'you' (你). This visually symbolizes that the greeting comes from the heart.
- The character 问 (to ask) is actually a pictograph depicting a mouth located inside a doorway. This visual history reinforces the idea of a greeting being an inquiry made at someone's entrance.
Examples in context
- 他的问候非常热情。Tā de wènhòu fēicháng rèqíng.His greeting was very warm.
- 收到大家的问候，我很高兴。Shōudào dàjiā de wènhòu, wǒ hěn gāoxìng.I am happy to receive everyone's greetings.
- 这只是简单的问候。Zhè zhǐshì jiǎndān de wènhòu.This is just a simple greeting.
Example conversation
Wei and Xiaowen meet in the office hallway.
- 伟 Wei晓雯，早安！Xiǎowén, zǎoān!Good morning, Xiaowen!
- 晓雯 Xiaowen早安，伟！谢谢你的问候。Zǎoān, Wěi! Xièxiè nǐ de wènhòu.Good morning, Wei! Thank you for the greeting.
- 伟 Wei没什么，你今天好吗？Méishénme, nǐ jīntiān hǎo ma?It's nothing, how are you today?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我很好，谢谢。Wǒ hěn hǎo, xièxiè.I am doing well, thank you.
