Survival scene course
Greetings Chinese Phrases
Use these Chinese greetings when you meet someone, thank them, apologize, or begin a short conversation.
Start here if you are completely new to Mandarin. These phrases are polite, short, and useful in almost every daily interaction.
Start with the phrases that matter first
This page works like a short survival lesson, not a dictionary dump. Begin with the Survival 300 phrases, listen to the audio, read the tone-mark pinyin, then save the phrases you would actually use.
Real examples
你好
nǐ hǎo
Hello.
早上好
zǎo shang hǎo
Good morning.
晚上好
wǎn shang hǎo
Good evening.
Common mistakes
- Do not use 你好 for every situation. Add 谢谢, 请问, and 对不起 so you sound more polite.
- Do not pronounce pinyin as English spelling. Read the tone marks first, then listen to the audio.
- Do not answer 谢谢 with 谢谢. Use 不客气 when someone thanks you.
Quick practice
- Listen to each phrase once at normal speed.
- Say the Chinese aloud three times.
- Cover the English and try to remember the meaning.
Related scenes
Greetings Chinese FAQ
What is the first Chinese greeting to learn?
Start with 你好, which means hello. Then learn 谢谢, 请问, and 再见.
Is 你好 formal or casual?
你好 is neutral and safe for beginners in most everyday situations.
Should beginners learn Chinese characters or only pinyin?
Use both. Pinyin helps pronunciation, while characters help you recognize signs and messages.
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Greetings phrase list
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