nǐ hǎo
neutral
In pinyin "hello" in Chinese is nǐ hǎo, written 你好 (nǐ hǎo). It literally means "you good" and works in almost every situation. It is also called nín hǎo and wéi.
Meaning: greeting (interjection)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Note |
|---|---|
| nǐ hǎo | neutral |
| nín hǎo | formal, respectful |
| wéi | phone |
Nǐ hǎo is the first phrase most learners pick up. You can say it to shop staff, classmates and strangers, and the usual reply is the same words.
Which one should you use?
When answering the phone people say wéi instead, written 喂 (wéi).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Nín hǎo, written 您好 (nín hǎo), uses the polite word nín for "you". Choose it with elders, teachers and customers.
How do you pronounce it?
Two third tones meet in nǐ hǎo, so the first one rises, and it is said close to "ní hǎo".
Did you know?
- The tone change in nǐ hǎo is the first example of Mandarin third tone sandhi that most learners meet.
Examples in context
- Nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào Tom.Hello, my name is Tom.
- Nín hǎo, qǐngwèn nín guìxìng?Hello, may I ask your name?
- Dàjiā hǎo!Hello, everyone!
Example conversation
Sara greets the shop owner Mr. Li when she enters a small tea shop.
- SaraNín hǎo!Hello!
- Mr. LiNǐ hǎo, huānyíng guānglín.Hello, welcome.
- SaraWǒ xiǎng mǎi chá.I would like to buy tea.
