How to Say Hi in Chinese
How to say hi in Chinese: '你好' (Nǐ hǎo), pronounced nee-HOW. Learn casual, formal and regional greetings in Mandarin with pinyin, tones and pronunciation tips.
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Quick answer
To say hi in Chinese, say '你好' (Nǐ hǎo), pronounced roughly nee-HOW — the universal Mandarin greeting that works in almost any situation. It literally means 'you good.' For something more casual, native speakers often just say '嗨' (Hāi) or '诶' (Èi), and for a polite version use '您好' (Nín hǎo).
你好
/nee-HOW/ — Chinese
How to Say Hi in Chinese
Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language in the world, and a single friendly phrase — 你好 (Nǐ hǎo) — will greet over a billion people. It is one of the first phrases every learner picks up, and for good reason: it is polite, universal and easy to remember.
The Essential Greeting: 你好 (Nǐ hǎo)
你好 — pronounced nee-HOW
The phrase combines 你 (nǐ, “you”) and 好 (hǎo, “good”), literally meaning “you good.” It functions exactly like the English “hello” and is appropriate in almost every context: meeting someone for the first time, answering a question, or greeting a shopkeeper.
你好 works:
- With strangers, colleagues and friends
- In person and in writing
- Across mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore
- As a safe, polite default when you are unsure
Copy the Phrase
The Chinese word for hi is 你好 (Nǐ hǎo), pronounced nee-HOW.
All the Ways to Say Hi in Chinese
| Chinese | Pinyin | Pronunciation | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 你好 | Nǐ hǎo | nee-HOW | Universal — any situation |
| 您好 | Nín hǎo | neen-HOW | Formal / polite |
| 你们好 | Nǐmen hǎo | nee-men-HOW | Greeting a group |
| 嗨 | Hāi | high | Casual “hi” (from English) |
| 哈喽 | Hālóu | HAH-loh | Casual “hello” (from English) |
| 诶 | Èi | ay | ”Hey” (very casual) |
| 早上好 | Zǎoshang hǎo | DZAOW-shang HOW | Good morning |
| 晚上好 | Wǎnshang hǎo | WAN-shang HOW | Good evening |
| 喂 | Wéi | way | ”Hello?” on the phone |
Tones: Why 你好 Sounds Like “Ní hǎo”
Mandarin is a tonal language with four main tones plus a neutral one. Both 你 and 好 carry the third tone (a low dipping tone). But Mandarin has a rule called tone sandhi: when two third tones come together, the first one changes to a second (rising) tone. So 你好 is written nǐ hǎo but pronounced ní hǎo — a rising “ní” followed by the dipping “hǎo.” Getting this right is the single biggest pronunciation upgrade for beginners.
Formal vs. Informal
Chinese marks politeness through the word for “you”:
- 你 (nǐ) — neutral/informal “you,” used with peers, friends and most everyday situations → 你好
- 您 (nín) — respectful “you,” used with elders, customers, teachers and superiors → 您好
When in doubt with someone older or in a professional setting, 您好 (Nín hǎo) shows respect. Among friends, the borrowed-English 嗨 (Hāi) or 诶 (Èi) feels relaxed and modern.
Time-of-Day and Phone Greetings
Like many languages, Chinese has time-specific greetings:
| Time | Greeting | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | 早上好 / 早 | Zǎoshang hǎo / Zǎo |
| Afternoon | 下午好 | Xiàwǔ hǎo |
| Evening | 晚上好 | Wǎnshang hǎo |
On the phone, Chinese speakers do not say 你好 — they say 喂 (Wéi), a special telephone “hello.” Using 喂 in person would sound abrupt, like shouting “Oi!”
Cultural Notes
A classic warm greeting in mainland China is 你吃了吗? (Nǐ chī le ma?) — “Have you eaten?” It is not a literal dinner invitation; it is a friendly way of asking how someone is doing, rooted in a culture that values sharing meals. A simple 吃了 (Chī le, “I’ve eaten”) is the expected reply. Pairing 你好 with a slight nod is plenty — bowing is Japanese and Korean custom, not Chinese, so a nod and a smile complete the greeting perfectly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say hi in Chinese?
Say '你好' (Nǐ hǎo), pronounced nee-HOW. It is the standard, all-purpose Mandarin greeting meaning literally 'you good,' suitable for strangers, colleagues and friends alike. A more casual everyday option is simply '嗨' (Hāi), borrowed from English.
How do you pronounce 你好 (Nǐ hǎo)?
It is two third-tone syllables, but when two third tones meet, the first shifts to a rising second tone, so it actually sounds like 'ní hǎo' — roughly nee-HOW. The 'i' in nǐ is like the 'ee' in 'see,' and 'hǎo' rhymes with 'how.' Mastering the dip-and-rise gives you a natural sound.
What is the difference between 你好 and 您好?
'你好' (Nǐ hǎo) uses the casual 'you' (你) and works in most situations. '您好' (Nín hǎo) uses 您 (nín), the respectful form of 'you,' and is more formal — used with elders, customers, bosses or anyone you want to show extra politeness to, much like 'usted' in Spanish.
What does 你好 literally mean in Chinese?
'你好' breaks down as 你 (nǐ = you) + 好 (hǎo = good/well), literally 'you good' or 'you well.' It is not phrased as a question; it is a simple statement-style greeting equivalent to 'hello.' The same 好 appears in 你们好 (nǐmen hǎo) for greeting a group.
How do Chinese people casually greet friends?
Beyond '你好,' friends often say '嗨' (Hāi, hi), '诶' (Èi, hey), or the famous '你吃了吗?' (Nǐ chī le ma? — 'Have you eaten?'), a warm informal greeting in mainland China. Online and among young people, '哈喽' (Hālóu, from 'hello') is also common.