How to Say Hello in Chinese
Learn how to say hello in Mandarin Chinese. '你好' (Nǐ hǎo) is the standard greeting. Pronunciation guide, tone notes, and the formal/casual ways to greet in Chinese.
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Quick answer
To say hello in Mandarin Chinese, say '你好' (Nǐ hǎo, nee how) — the standard, universal greeting, literally 'you good.' For politeness with elders or strangers, use '您好' (Nín hǎo). Mandarin is tonal: 'Nǐ hǎo' uses two third tones (falling-rising), though in practice the first shifts to a rising tone. A casual greeting is just '嗨' (Hāi, 'hi').
你好
/nee how/ — Chinese
How to Say Hello in Chinese
Mandarin Chinese — spoken by over a billion people — greets the world with Nǐ hǎo. Learning it also introduces you to the most important feature of the language: tones.
The Standard Greeting: Nǐ Hǎo
你好 — Nǐ hǎo — pronounced nee how
Literally “you good.” It’s polite, standard, and works in most situations.
Copy the Phrase
The Chinese word for hello is 你好 (Nǐ hǎo, nee how).
What It Means
- 你 (nǐ) = you
- 好 (hǎo) = good / well
So Nǐ hǎo = “you [are] well” — the direct equivalent of “hello.” The polite form 您好 (Nín hǎo) uses 您 (nín), the respectful “you,” for elders and formal settings.
Understanding Tones (Essential!)
Mandarin is tonal — the same syllable with a different pitch means a different word. There are four main tones plus a neutral tone:
| Tone | Mark | Contour | Example (ma) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | ¯ | High, flat | mā = mother |
| 2nd | ´ | Rising | má = hemp |
| 3rd | ˇ | Low, dipping | mǎ = horse |
| 4th | ` | Sharp falling | mà = scold |
Getting tones wrong can change your meaning entirely — they’re not optional.
Nǐ hǎo tone tip: Both syllables are written with the 3rd tone (ˇ). But when two 3rd tones meet, the first becomes a rising (2nd) tone — so Nǐ hǎo actually sounds like “ní hǎo” (rising, then dipping).
Time-of-Day Greetings
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 早上好 | Zǎoshang hǎo | Good morning |
| 早 | Zǎo | Morning (casual) |
| 下午好 | Xiàwǔ hǎo | Good afternoon |
| 晚上好 | Wǎnshang hǎo | Good evening |
| 你好 | Nǐ hǎo | Hello (any time) |
Formal vs. Casual
| Chinese | Pinyin | Register |
|---|---|---|
| 您好 | Nín hǎo | Polite/respectful (elders, business) |
| 你好 | Nǐ hǎo | Standard polite |
| 嗨 / 嘿 | Hāi / Hēi | Hi / Hey (casual) |
| 你吃了吗? | Nǐ chī le ma? | ”Have you eaten?” (warm, traditional) |
Cultural note: Among close friends, Nǐ hǎo can sound a bit textbook — friends often greet by name, with Hāi, or with the warm traditional “你吃了吗?” (Have you eaten?), which shows care rather than literally asking about food.
Pronunciation Recap
- Nǐ — “nee”
- hǎo — “how” (rhymes with “cow”)
- Remember the tone shift: it sounds like “ní hǎo”
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce Nǐ hǎo?
'你好' (Nǐ hǎo) is pronounced roughly 'nee how.' 'Nǐ' = nee, 'hǎo' = how (rhymes with 'cow'). Both syllables carry the third tone (a low falling-rising dip), marked by the ˇ over the vowels. Tone rule: when two third tones come together, the first becomes a rising (second) tone — so it actually sounds like 'ní hǎo' (rising, then falling-rising). Getting tones right matters in Chinese, as they change meaning.
What does Nǐ hǎo literally mean?
'你好' literally means 'you good' — 你 (nǐ) = you, 好 (hǎo) = good/well. So you're essentially saying 'you [are] well' or 'good [to] you.' It's the direct equivalent of 'hello.' The polite form '您好' (Nín hǎo) uses 您 (nín), the respectful form of 'you,' for elders and formal situations.
What are Chinese tones and why do they matter?
Mandarin Chinese is tonal — the same syllable said with a different pitch contour means a different word. There are four main tones plus a neutral tone: 1st (high flat ¯), 2nd (rising ´), 3rd (low dipping ˇ), 4th (sharp falling `). For example, 'mā' (mother), 'má' (hemp), 'mǎ' (horse), 'mà' (scold) are all written 'ma' but mean different things by tone. Tones are essential — getting them wrong can change your meaning entirely.
How do you greet people at different times in Chinese?
Time-specific greetings: '早上好' (Zǎoshang hǎo) or just '早' (Zǎo) = good morning; '下午好' (Xiàwǔ hǎo) = good afternoon; '晚上好' (Wǎnshang hǎo) = good evening. '你好' (Nǐ hǎo) works any time. A very common casual greeting is '你吃了吗?' (Nǐ chī le ma? — 'Have you eaten?'), a warm traditional way of showing care, not a literal question about food.
Is Nǐ hǎo formal or casual?
'你好' (Nǐ hǎo) is polite and standard — appropriate in most situations, with strangers and acquaintances. Interestingly, among close friends in China, 'Nǐ hǎo' can sound slightly formal/textbook — friends often greet with the person's name, '嗨/嘿' (Hāi/Hēi — hi/hey), or '你吃了吗?' (have you eaten?). For respect with elders or in business, use '您好' (Nín hǎo).