30 Curcial Chinese Greetings : Pinyin , Pronunciations & Usage

Do you want to impress your Chinese friends with authentic greetings? In Chinese culture, greetings go beyond simple “hello”s—they are deeply tied to respect, social harmony, and cultural practices. Whether you’re meeting someone for the first time or wishing someone a happy new year, knowing the right greeting can make a positive impression.

Wukong Chinese will explore 30 essential Chinese greetings, providing you with the tools to say the right thing at the right time. Ready to start mastering the art of Chinese greetings? Let’s dive in!

1. What Are Chinese Greetings?

Definition and Categories of Chinese Greetings

Chinese greetings, just like in English, vary depending on the context, time of day, and the relationship between speakers. These greetings can be broadly categorized into:

• General Greetings: Basic greetings like “Hello,” “Goodbye,” etc.
• Time-Specific Greetings: Greetings based on the time of day, like “Good morning” or “Good evening.”
• Formal Greetings: For professional settings or when meeting strangers.
• Festival Greetings: Special greetings used during holidays like Chinese New Year.

Comparison with English Greetings

Unlike English, Chinese greetings often reflect social hierarchies and levels of familiarity. For example, “Nǐ hǎo” (你好) is used for casual greetings, while “Nín hǎo” (您好) is more polite and formal. This shows the level of respect and the relationship between the speakers.

2. Daily Chinese Greetings You Need to Know

1.嗨 (Hāi) – Hi

• Usage: A casual, informal greeting, commonly used among friends.
• Pronunciation: /high/

2.哈喽 (Hā lou) – Hello

• Usage: A more casual, friendly way of saying hello, often used in online or informal settings.
• Pronunciation: /hah loh/

3.嘿 (Hēi) – Hey

• Usage: A very informal greeting, usually used among close friends or in relaxed environments.
• Pronunciation: /hey/

4.你好 (Nǐ hǎo) – Hello

• Usage: A casual, everyday greeting.
• Pronunciation: /nee how/

5. 你好吗？ (nǐ hǎo ma) How are you?

• Usage: A common greeting to ask someone how they are doing, often used with friends or acquaintances.
• Pronunciation: /nee how ma/

6.早上好 (Zǎo shàng hǎo) – Good morning

• Usage: Used in the morning until around noon.
• Pronunciation: /dzow shahng how/

7.下午好 (Xià wǔ hǎo) – Good afternoon

• Usage: Used in the afternoon.
• Pronunciation: /shyah woo how/

8.晚上好 (Wǎn shàng hǎo) – Good evening

• Usage: Used in the evening, generally after 5 PM.
• Pronunciation: /wahn shahng how/

9.晚安 (Wǎn ān) – Good night

• Usage: To say goodnight or goodbye at night.
• Pronunciation: /wahn ahn/

10.再见 (Zài jiàn) – Goodbye

• Usage: A casual way to say goodbye.
• Pronunciation: /dzye jyen/

11.祝你好运 (Zhù nǐ hǎo yùn) – Good luck

• Usage: To wish someone good luck.
• Pronunciation: /joo nee how yoon/

12. 吃了吗? (chī le ma?) – Have you eaten yet?

• Usage: A traditional greeting, often used in Chinese culture as a way to show concern for someone’s well-being.
• Pronunciation: /chih luh ma/

3. Formal and Festival Chinese Greetings

1.您好 (Nín hǎo) – Hello (Formal)

• Usage: Used when addressing elders or strangers.
• Pronunciation: /neen how/

2. 恭喜发财 (Gōng xǐ fā cái) – Wishing you wealth

• Usage: A common greeting during Chinese New Year.
• Pronunciation: /gong she fa tsai/

3. 新年快乐 (Xīn nián kuài lè) – Happy New Year

• Usage: Used during Chinese New Year.
• Pronunciation: /sheen nian kwai luh/

4. 祝你生日快乐 (Zhù nǐ shēng rì kuài lè) – Happy Birthday

• Usage: To wish someone a happy birthday.
• Pronunciation: /joo nee shuhng ree kwai luh/

5. 祝你成功 (Zhù nǐ chéng gōng) – Wish you success

• Usage: To wish someone success.
• Pronunciation: /joo nee chuhng gong/

6. 祝你平安 (Zhù nǐ píng ān) – Wishing you peace

• Usage: A greeting to wish safety or peace.
• Pronunciation: /joo nee ping ahn/

4. Cultural Insights & Pronunciation Tips about Chinese Greetings

Tone Matters in Mandarin

Mandarin Chinese is a tonal language, meaning the tone of a word can change its meaning. For example:

• 妈 (mā) means “mother” with the first tone.
• 马 (mǎ) means “horse” with the third tone.

Cultural Significance of Chinese Greetings

In China, greetings are often linked to showing respect. For example, when greeting older people, using “nín” (您) instead of “nǐ” (你) is a sign of politeness. Similarly, during festivals like Chinese New Year, the greetings convey wishes for prosperity, good health, and happiness.

5. Say Greetings in China to Avoid and Practice Tips

1. Mistake: Using informal chinese greetings in formal settings

Avoid using casual greetings like 你好 (nǐ hǎo) when addressing someone much older or in a formal setting. Opt for the more respectful 您好 (nín hǎo).

2. Mistake: Mispronouncing tones on chinese greetings

Mispronouncing tones can lead to misunderstandings. For example, saying “mā” with the wrong tone could make you refer to a horse rather than your mother.

Practice Tip: Use online language tools or mobile apps to practice the tones and get real-time feedback.

6. Expanding Your Chinese Greetings Vocabulary

1. 祝你每天都开心 (Zhù nǐ měi tiān dōu kāi xīn) – Wishing you happiness every day

• Usage: A thoughtful greeting to wish someone daily happiness.
• Pronunciation: /joo nee may tyan doh kye shin/

2. 一路顺风 (Yī lù shùn fēng) – Have a good journey

• Usage: A wish for safe travels.
• Pronunciation: /ee loo shoon fung/

3. 好久不见 (Hǎo jiǔ bù jiàn) – Long time no see

• Usage: When you meet someone after a long time.
• Pronunciation: /how joe boo jyen/

4. 没关系 (Méi guān xì) – It’s okay/No problem

• Usage: Used to reassure someone or respond to an apology.
• Pronunciation: /may gwan shee/

5.一切顺利 (Yī qiè shùn lì) – Everything goes smoothly

• Usage: To wish someone that everything goes smoothly in their life or endeavors.
• Pronunciation: /ee chye shoon lee/

6.早日康复 (Zǎo rì kāng fù) – Get well soon

• Usage: To wish someone a speedy recovery when they are ill.
• Pronunciation: /dzow ree kahng foo/

7.春节快乐 (Chūn jié kuài lè) – Happy Spring Festival

• Usage: A common greeting during the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival).
• Pronunciation: /choon jyeh kwai luh/

8.过得怎么样? (Guò dé zěn me yàng?) – How’s it going?

• Usage: A casual way to ask someone about how they are doing in life or how things are going.
• Pronunciation: /gwaw duh dzuh ma yahng/

9. 喂 (wéi): Hey

• Usage: Used as a greeting when answering the phone.
• Pronunciation: /way/

10.你最近忙吗? (Nǐ zuì jìn máng ma?) – Are you busy lately?

• Usage: A casual way to ask someone if they’ve been busy recently.
• Pronunciation: /nee dzway jin mahng ma/

11. 最近你怎么样? (zuì jìn nǐ zěn me yàng) – How’s things?

• Usage: A friendly way to ask someone about how they’ve been doing recently.
• Pronunciation: /nee dzway jin dzuh ma yahng/

12.一路顺风 (Yī lù shùn fēng) – Have a good journey

• Usage: A wish for safe travels.
• Pronunciation: /ee loo shoon fung/

Here are the answers to your questions, each within the word limit:

FAQS on Chinese Greetings

How do you greet someone in Chinese?

Common Chinese greetings include “你好” (Nǐ hǎo) for “Hello” and “早安” (Zǎo’ān) for “Good morning.” In more informal settings, “嗨” (Hāi) or “哈喽” (Hā lóu) are popular. Chinese greetings often depend on the time of day and social context, with “晚安” (Wǎn’ān) used for “Good night.” Understanding the right greeting helps you make a good impression in greetings in China.

How do I reply to Ni Hao?

When someone greets you with “你好” (Nǐ hǎo), a simple and polite reply is “你好” (Nǐ hǎo) as well. You can also respond with “您好” (Nín hǎo) for a more respectful tone, especially when speaking to elders or superiors. It’s a friendly and common exchange in Chinese greetings, showing respect and politeness.

How to reply xie xie in Chinese?

The common reply to “谢谢” (Xièxiè) for “Thank you” is “不客气” (Bù kèqì), meaning “You’re welcome.” You can also say “没关系” (Méi guānxi), which means “No problem.” These are standard responses when showing gratitude in greetings in China, reflecting politeness and humility.

Conclusion

Mastering Chinese greetings is a crucial first step in building meaningful relationships and understanding Chinese culture. Whether you’re meeting someone for the first time, or wishing someone a happy holiday, the right greeting can leave a lasting impression. Keep practicing these phrases, and you’ll be speaking like a native in no time!

Ready to level up your Chinese skills? Join Wukong Education’s online courses today to dive deeper into Mandarin greetings and more chinese common verbs. The K and S series courses, which are designed to help children whose native language is not Chinese. These courses are specifically tailored for overseas learners with zero foundation in spoken and listening Chinese, aiming to cultivate their daily spoken and listening communication skills in Chinese.Learn at your own pace, and connect with a community of like-minded learners!

Lea | WuKong Chinese Teacher

Lea is a passionate educator and writer,hailing from Beijing Jiaotong University where she graduated with a degree in English.With a deep understanding of education and a knack for making learning engaging,she brings a unique blend of knowledge and creativity to her writing. Whether crafting educational content or sharing tips on making math fun, Lea’s goal is to inspire and empower both parents and children on their learning journey.