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 meeting someone for the first time or when greeting someone you know.

Example:

Chinese: 你好，我叫约翰。
Pinyin: Nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào Yuēhàn.
English: Hello, my name is John.
Variations:

There are a few variations of "你好 (nǐ hǎo)" that you may hear:

您好 (nín hǎo): A more formal way to say "hello", typically used when addressing someone older or in a position of authority.
哈喽 (hā lóu): A more informal way to say "hello", similar to "hi" in English.
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)" can also be used to answer the phone.
When greeting a group of people, you can say "你们好 (nǐmen hǎo)", which means "hello everyone."
In some regions of China, people may also use "哈喽 (hā lóu)" to greet friends and family.