Most people who start learning Mandarin pick up 你好 on day one. Every app teaches it, every textbook starts with it, and it's completely correct. But spend any real time around native speakers and you notice something: they don't actually say it that much. Not to friends, not to colleagues they see every day, not in text messages.
This guide covers the full picture — greetings, farewells, thank yous, expressions of love, birthday wishes — with two versions of each: what the textbooks give you, and what people actually say. It also fills in a few things most guides skip entirely.
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How to Say Hello in Chinese
What textbooks teach you
你好 (nǐ hǎo) — Hello
The standard. Literally "you good." Works in almost any situation, but leans formal among people who know each other — think "how do you do" rather than "hey." One pronunciation note most resources skip: Mandarin has a rule where two third-tone syllables in a row cause the first to shift to a second tone in natural speech. So 你好 is actually pronounced ní hǎo. Every native speaker does this automatically. If you're producing two identical dipping tones, it sounds slightly off.
您好 (nín hǎo) — Hello (respectful)
The polite version, using the honorific 您 instead of 你. Use it with elders, teachers, bosses, or anyone whose status you want to acknowledge. Rarely used casually.
What people actually say
嗨 (hāi) — Hi
Borrowed directly from English. Casual, warm, common among friends and younger speakers especially. Works the same way "hi" does in English — no special context needed.
嘿 (hēi) — Hey
Also borrowed from English. Slightly more playful and teasing than 嗨. Good for getting a close friend's attention or greeting someone with a bit of attitude.
哈喽 (hā lóu) — Hello
Another English loan. Very common in texts and social media. You'll also see 哈喽哈喽 in chats — the doubled version, cheerful and casual. If you want a full picture of 20 Chinese slang words that sound like a native speaker, these borrowed expressions are just the start.
喂 (wéi) — Hello? (phone only)
This one trips people up. 喂 is exclusively a telephone greeting, the equivalent of saying "hello?" when you pick up. Use it in person and people will look at you strangely. Technically a fourth-tone character (wèi), but most people answer the phone with a rising second tone (wéi), which sounds friendlier.
What most guides miss
吃了吗？(chī le ma?) — Have you eaten?
One of the most culturally interesting greetings in the language, and almost entirely absent from beginner resources. It functions as a warm check-in — closer to "how are you?" than a literal question about food. It comes from a time when food security wasn't guaranteed, and asking whether someone had eaten was a genuine expression of care. It's one of several Chinese expressions that carry far more weight than a direct translation suggests. The natural response is 吃了，你呢？(Yes, I've eaten — and you?)
大家好 (dàjiā hǎo) — Hello everyone
How you address a group. 大家 means "everyone" (literally "big family"). Common at the start of speeches, meetings, classes, and video introductions. If you're ever introducing yourself to a room of Chinese speakers, start here.
Greeting by title: If someone has a title, you can attach 好 directly. 老师好 (lǎoshī hǎo) is the standard way students greet teachers. 经理好 addresses a manager. More specific and respectful than a generic 你好.
在吗？(zài ma?) — Are you there?
Technically asking if someone is available, but functionally how many people open a WeChat conversation. The Chinese equivalent of "hey" as a text opener.
How to Say Good Morning in Chinese
What textbooks teach you
早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo) — Good morning
Polite and direct. Common in formal settings — schools, workplaces, meetings. It's the "Good morning" you'd say to a teacher or manager you don't know well.
What people actually say
早 (zǎo) — Morning
This is the one people actually use day to day. Short, casual, exactly like saying "Morning!" in English rather than "Good morning." Works for colleagues, neighbours, friends — basically any informal morning context. Once you're in China or around Chinese speakers regularly, this becomes one of the most common sounds of the morning. If you're travelling and want to make the most of these moments, the 50 essential phrases for travelling in China covers the practical side in full.
Our HSK 1 Materials
Are you planning to take the HSK 1 exam? Check out our dedicated materials, designed by teachers for learners.
How to Say How Are You in Chinese
What textbooks teach you
你好吗？(nǐ hǎo ma?) — How are you?
Grammatically correct and universally understood. But it sounds slightly formal and detached in everyday conversation — not quite wrong, just a bit textbook-y. Native speakers don't use it as a reflex greeting the way English speakers use "how are you."
你最近怎么样？(nǐ zuìjìn zěnme yàng?) — How have you been recently?
More conversational. Use this when you haven't seen someone in a while and want a genuine update — not as a passing greeting.
过得怎么样？(guò de zěnme yàng?) — How's life?
Open-ended and colloquial. Literally "how are things going?" Better suited to catching up than a quick hello.
What people actually say
你干嘛呢？(nǐ gànma ne?) — What are you up to?
Probably the most natural casual check-in between friends. It assumes familiarity and carries a tone of genuine curiosity. The equivalent of texting "what are you doing?" rather than "how are you?"
干嘛呀？(gànma ya?) — What's up?
An even more relaxed version. Can mean "what are you doing?", "what's up?", or even "why?" depending on context. If someone calls you unexpectedly, responding with 干嘛呀 is the equivalent of "what's going on?" It's flexible in a way that makes it useful in a lot of situations once you get a feel for it.
忙什么呢？(máng shénme ne?) — What are you busy with?
Assumes the person has something going on — which most people do. Warmer than it sounds in translation, and a natural way to check in without making it feel like a formal inquiry.
How to Say Goodbye in Chinese
What textbooks teach you
再见 (zàijiàn) — Goodbye
The standard farewell. Literally "see again." Polite and universally correct, but can sound a bit stiff among friends — the "farewell" rather than the "bye."
What people actually say
拜拜 (bāibāi) — Bye-bye
Borrowed from English and now completely natural in Chinese. One of the most common casual goodbyes, especially among younger people. Warm, informal, and works in almost any relaxed setting.
走了 (zǒu le) — I'm heading out
Literally "I'm leaving." Used when you're about to leave a group or a place — less of a goodbye and more of an announcement that you're going. If you're at a friend's place and getting ready to leave, 走了 followed by a wave is entirely natural.
回头见 (huítóu jiàn) — See you later
Literally "turn around and see you." Casual and warm, implying you'll cross paths again soon. The relaxed alternative to 再见 when the separation feels temporary.
明天见 (míngtiān jiàn) — See you tomorrow
Simple and practical. Use when you know you'll actually see the person the next day.
下次见 (xià cì jiàn) — See you next time
A slightly more open-ended version. When tomorrow is too specific but you know you'll meet again.
How to Say Thank You in Chinese
What textbooks teach you
谢谢 (xièxie) — Thank you
The standard. Universally understood, appropriate in any situation, and not wrong in any context. It can sound a bit neutral and routine between close friends, but it's never incorrect.
What people actually say
麻烦你了 (máfan nǐ le) — Sorry for the trouble
Doesn't directly mean "thank you" but functions as a warm expression of gratitude — acknowledging that the person went out of their way. More common in situations where someone genuinely inconvenienced themselves for you. It carries both thanks and apology in a way that reflects the social awareness central to Chinese culture — the same awareness behind concepts like 面子 (face) and how relationships actually work.
谢谢啦 (xièxie la) — Thanks
Adding the particle 啦 makes the whole thing lighter and more casual. The difference between "thank you" and "thanks!" — same meaning, different warmth. Common between friends and in relaxed situations. These kinds of sentence-final particles — 啦, 呢, 吧, 嘛 — are one of the things that make Chinese feel most alive once you start noticing them.
多谢 (duōxiè) — Thanks a lot
Literally "many thanks." A bit warmer than a plain 谢谢 but not overly formal. Common across mainland China and Taiwan. Good for situations where you want to express genuine appreciation without going overboard.
不用谢 (bú yòng xiè) — Don't mention it
The standard response to being thanked. Literally "no need to thank me." The equivalent of "you're welcome" or "no worries." Learn it alongside 谢谢 so you know what to say when someone thanks you.
How to Say I Love You in Chinese
What textbooks teach you
我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ) — I love you
Direct and correct. But as we explored in depth in why Chinese people rarely say I love you, this phrase is used far more sparingly than its English equivalent. It carries real weight precisely because it isn't said casually. Saying 我爱你 in Chinese isn't like saying "I love you" to a friend after a nice dinner — it's reserved for serious romantic moments.
What people actually say
我喜欢你 (wǒ xǐhuān nǐ) — I like you
In Chinese romantic culture, 我喜欢你 is where relationships often begin — a genuine confession, not a casual remark. Used when feelings exist but haven't yet reached the depth that 我爱你 implies. Context matters enormously: between friends it's platonic, between potential partners it's a declaration.
你真好 (nǐ zhēn hǎo) — You're really great
Not a love declaration but an expression of warmth and appreciation. "You're so good" is the literal translation, but the emotional meaning is closer to "I'm really glad you're in my life." Used with friends, family, and partners alike.
心疼你 (xīnténg nǐ) — My heart aches for you
The tender feeling when someone you love is suffering or working too hard. No clean English equivalent exists — it's one of those Chinese emotional concepts that resist direct translation entirely. You might also hear 我心疼你 said by a parent watching their child struggle, or a partner coming home to find the other exhausted.
How to Say Happy Birthday in Chinese
What textbooks teach you
生日快乐 (shēngrì kuàilè) — Happy Birthday
The standard. Direct, universally understood, appropriate for anyone. You'll see this on birthday cards, in group chats, on social media. It works exactly as "happy birthday" does in English.
What people actually say
祝你长命百岁 (zhù nǐ chángmìng bǎisuì) — Wishing you a hundred years of life
A traditional birthday wish — literally "wishing you a long life of a hundred years." It carries more warmth and cultural depth than a simple happy birthday, and tends to land particularly well with older recipients. This kind of expression — where the literal meaning and the emotional meaning are two very different things — is one of the most fascinating dimensions of Chinese as a language. Use it for significant birthdays, for elders, or for any occasion where you want to go beyond the standard phrase.
生日快乐，年年有今日，岁岁有今朝 — Happy birthday, may this day come year after year
A fuller, more poetic version. The added phrase means roughly "may this day repeat every year, may every year bring this day." Warm and lyrical, common in birthday messages from people who want to say a bit more than the basics.
Quick Reference
| Phrase | Pinyin | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 你好 | nǐ hǎo (say ní hǎo) | Strangers, neutral, formal |
| 您好 | nín hǎo | Elders, bosses, formal |
| 嗨 / 嘿 | hāi / hēi | Friends, casual |
| 哈喽 | hā lóu | Texts, social media |
| 喂 | wéi | Phone only |
| 早 | zǎo | Morning, casual |
| 吃了吗？ | chī le ma? | Casual check-in, traditional contexts |
| 你干嘛呢？ | nǐ gànma ne? | What are you up to? (friends) |
| 再见 | zàijiàn | Formal goodbye |
| 拜拜 | bāibāi | Casual bye |
| 走了 | zǒu le | I'm heading out |
| 谢谢 | xièxie | Thank you |
| 麻烦你了 | máfan nǐ le | Sorry for the trouble / thanks |
| 不用谢 | bú yòng xiè | You're welcome |
| 我喜欢你 | wǒ xǐhuān nǐ | Romantic confession |
| 我爱你 | wǒ ài nǐ | I love you (used sparingly) |
| 生日快乐 | shēngrì kuàilè | Happy birthday |
| 祝你长命百岁 | zhù nǐ chángmìng bǎisuì | Wishing you a long life |
Download the pdf version: How to Say Hello in Chinese.pdf
One Last Thing
The gap between textbook Chinese and real Chinese shows up in greetings more than almost anywhere else. 你好 is fine. It will always be understood. But the moment you swap it for 嗨 with a friend, or say 走了 when you're leaving a room, or respond with 不用谢 when someone thanks you — that's when the language starts feeling like yours rather than a script you're reciting.
Start small. Pick two or three phrases from this list that fit situations you're actually in. Use them. The rest follows naturally. And if you're just getting started and want to know where all of this fits into learning Mandarin properly, the self-study roadmap is a good next read.
Antoine Collard
Originally from Belgium, Antoine lived more than 5 years in Taipei, Taiwan. He graduated from a Chinese-taught master’s program in Political Science at National Taiwan University.
