你好，你好吗？
nǐ hǎo, nǐ hǎo ma?
The English phrase "hello, how are you doing?" is translated into Chinese as 你好，你好吗？ (nǐ hǎo, nǐ hǎo ma?)
This phrase is a common greeting used to start a conversation and ask about a person's well-being. In modern spoken Chinese, using this exact phrasing can sound slightly formal or textbook-like.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of nǐ hǎo (hello) and nǐ hǎo ma (how are you), which literally translates to "you good, you good [question particle]".
How does it change in a sentence?
The honorific 您 is used when addressing someone formally to show respect.
How do you pronounce it?
nǐ hǎo, nǐ hǎo ma?
When do people say it?
A common response to nǐ hǎo ma? is 我很好，谢谢。
Did you know?
- Instead of asking 'how are you', many native speakers greet friends by asking if they have eaten, using the phrase 你吃了吗?
- The word 好 in 你好 is a phono-semantic compound consisting of characters for 'woman' and 'child', which together historically represented the idea of 'good' or 'harmony'.
- The polite form 您好 uses a specific character 您 that includes a radical for 'heart' at the bottom, visually implying that the respect comes from the heart.
Example conversation
Two friends meet unexpectedly at a park.
- 伟 Wei雨婷，你好，你好吗？Yǔtíng, nǐ hǎo, nǐ hǎo ma?Yuting, hello, how are you doing?
- 雨婷 Yuting我很好，谢谢！你呢？Wǒ hěn hǎo, xièxie! Nǐ ne?I am doing well, thanks! How about you?
- 伟 Wei我也很好。Wǒ yě hěn hǎo.I am also doing well.
- 雨婷 Yuting很高兴见到你。Hěn gāoxìng jiàndào nǐ.It's very nice to see you.
