How to say “Hello” in Chinese
“Hello” in Chinese is 你好。, written in pinyin as Nǐ hǎo.
你好。
Nǐ hǎo.
Hello.
Word by word
What each part of 你好。 actually means.
- 你nǐyou
- 好hǎogood
When you use it
- The standard greeting at any hour of the day, with anyone you do not know well.
- It is also how people answer the phone in Chinese.
Use 你好。 in everyday situations. Greetings, thanks and the small words you use all day.
Other ways people say it
The same idea, said differently. Roughly in the order you'll hear them.
您好。
Nín hǎo
Hello (respectful).
Same sentence with the formal 您 instead of 你. Use it with much older people, doctors, and anyone serving you in a formal setting.
嗨。
Hāi
Hi.
Casual. Common among younger people and in messaging.
大家好。
Dàjiā hǎo
Hello everyone.
The same pattern with 大家 (everyone) in front — for a room, a table, or a group you are addressing at once.
What usually trips people up
- 你好 is for first meetings and formal moments. Greeting a friend with it every morning sounds distant — friends often greet each other with a comment or nothing at all.
- Do not treat it as 'how are you'. 你好吗 is a literal question people rarely ask; everyday greetings are usually observations about what you can see.
- Two third tones run together into one rising tone, so 你好 is said ní hǎo, not nǐ hǎo with two separate dips. Reading each syllable in its dictionary tone sounds wooden to a Chinese ear.
What you might hear back
- 你好，请问需要什么？Nǐ hǎo, qǐng wèn xūyào shénme?Hello — what can I do for you?
- 你好，请问几位？Nǐ hǎo, qǐng wèn jǐ wèi?Hello — table for how many?
- 喂，你好。Wéi, nǐ hǎoHello? (the way a phone is answered)
Common questions
- How do you say "Hello" in Chinese?
- "Hello" in Chinese is 你好。 — written in pinyin as Nǐ hǎo. It is an everyday phrase you would use in China.
- What does 你好。 mean in Chinese?
- 你好。 (Nǐ hǎo) means "Hello". Broken down word by word: 你 (nǐ) means "you"; 好 (hǎo) means "good".
- When would you use "Hello" in Chinese?
- The standard greeting at any hour of the day, with anyone you do not know well. It is also how people answer the phone in Chinese.
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