Chinese Greetings and Introductions

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Say hello properly, introduce yourself by family name first, and handle thanks and goodbyes — with tones from day one.

Full course. Authored Chinese content, part of the free EkGuru Chinese course. Audio is your browser’s computer voice, not a native recording.

你好 is only the beginning

Everyone knows 你好 (nǐ hǎo — hello), and it works — but natives greet more concretely: 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo — good morning), 晚上好 (good evening), and the wonderfully direct 你吃了吗? (nǐ chī le ma — have you eaten?) — a "how are you" that expects no food report. Answer with 吃了 (chī le — eaten). The respectful "you" is 您 (nín) — use it with elders and clients.

Names go family-first

Introduce yourself as 我叫… (wǒ jiào… — I am called…): 我叫拉维 (I am called Ravi). Asking: 你叫什么名字? (nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?). Crucial: the FAMILY name comes first — 王伟 is Mr Wáng, not Mr Wěi. Asking someone's surname: 您贵姓? (nín guì xìng? — your honourable surname?) Answer: 我姓王 (wǒ xìng Wáng).

How are you, really

你好吗? (nǐ hǎo ma?) is textbook-correct but stiff; friends ask 最近怎么样? (zuìjìn zěnmeyàng? — how have you been lately?). The polite reply ladder: 很好 (very good), 还不错 (not bad), 马马虎虎 (so-so — literally "horse horse tiger tiger"). Origin: 我是印度人 (wǒ shì Yìndù rén — I am an Indian), asked as 你是哪国人?

Thanks and goodbye

谢谢 (xièxie) is thanks — doubling is built in; 谢谢你 adds warmth. The reply is 不客气 (bú kèqi — don't be polite) or 没关系. No direct word for "please" exists — 请 (qǐng) before a verb softens it: 请坐 (please sit). Goodbye: 再见 (zàijiàn — again see), or the casual 拜拜 (bàibai).

Greeting	When to use it
你好 / 您好	hello — casual / respectful
早上好 / 晚上好	good morning / good evening
你吃了吗?	have you eaten? — warm "how are you"
我叫…	I am called… — introducing yourself
谢谢 / 不客气	thanks / you're welcome
再见	goodbye — see you again

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