你好

Learning Chinese: How to Say "Hello" in Chinese

Chinese Characters: 你好
Pinyin: nǐ hǎo
Pronunciation: ni3 hao3
English Translation: Hello

Usage:

"你好 (nǐ hǎo)" is the most common way to say "hello" in Chinese. It can be used in both formal and informal settings. It is typically used when greeting someone for the first time or when meeting someone after a long time.

Example:

Chinese: 你好，老师。
Pinyin: Nǐ hǎo, lǎoshī.
English: Hello, teacher.

Variations:

There are a few variations of "你好 (nǐ hǎo)" that you may hear, depending on the region and context:

• 早安 (zǎoān): Good morning (used before noon)
• 下午好 (xiàwǔ hǎo): Good afternoon (used from noon to 6pm)
• 晚上好 (wǎnshàng hǎo): Good evening (used from 6pm onwards)

Tips for Learning:

• Practice saying "你好 (nǐ hǎo)" out loud to improve your pronunciation.
• Listen to native Chinese speakers saying "hello" to get a sense of the natural rhythm and intonation.
• Use "你好 (nǐ hǎo)" in your daily conversations to practice using it in context.

Additional Notes:

• "你好 (nǐ hǎo)" is typically used when greeting someone in person.
• To say "hello" on the phone, you can say "喂 (喂)", which is a general attention-getting sound.
• In some formal settings, you may also hear people say "您好 (nín hǎo)", which is a more respectful way to greet someone.