TL;DR
- The most common way to say hello in Chinese is 你好 (nǐ hǎo).
- Use 您好 (nín hǎo) to greet someone respectfully.
- Casual greetings like 嗨 (hāi) and 哈喽 (hā lóu) are common among younger speakers.
- Morning greetings include 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo) or simply 早 (zǎo).
- Context and tone matter — greetings in Mandarin reflect cultural respect and relationship closeness.
How Do You Say “Hello” in Chinese?
The standard greeting in Mandarin Chinese is 你好 (nǐ hǎo) — literally “you good.”
It’s the universal equivalent of “hello,” used both formally and casually.
Characters: 你好
Pinyin: nǐ hǎo
Meaning: hello / hi
To greet elders, teachers, or strangers respectfully, use 您好 (nín hǎo) — the polite form of “you.”
If you’re new to pronunciation, see our Mastering Chinese Pinyin guide for tone explanations and audio practice.
How to Pronounce “Nǐ Hǎo” Correctly
Mandarin is tonal — tones affect meaning.
- nǐ (你) uses the third tone, which falls then rises.
- hǎo (好) also uses the third tone, meaning “good.”
Together, say it smoothly as nee how, dipping slightly in pitch for each word.
👉 Practice tip: record yourself saying “nǐ hǎo” and compare it with native audio on Avatalks’ Character Pronunciation Tool for accurate tone feedback.
Variations of “Hello” in Chinese
Chinese greetings change by formality and time of day.
Here are the most common ones:
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 你好 | nǐ hǎo | Hello / Hi | Standard greeting |
| 您好 | nín hǎo | Hello (polite) | To elders, teachers, officials |
| 大家好 | dàjiā hǎo | Hello everyone | To greet a group |
| 早上好 | zǎoshang hǎo | Good morning | Formal or polite morning greeting |
| 早 | zǎo | Morning! / Hi! | Friendly or casual |
| 下午好 | xiàwǔ hǎo | Good afternoon | Less common but correct |
| 晚上好 | wǎnshang hǎo | Good evening | Used in formal contexts |
| 嗨 / 哈喽 | hāi / hā lóu | Hi / Hello | Informal, used by young people or in media |
In casual settings, 嗨 (hāi) is very common, influenced by English.
However, 你好 remains the safest choice in all situations.
Greeting Etiquette in Chinese Culture
Saying hello in Mandarin is not only about words — it’s about respect and social harmony.
Chinese greetings often depend on age, relationship, and setting.
For example:
- To your professor or boss: use 您好 (nín hǎo).
- To a friend: just say 你好 (nǐ hǎo) or even 嗨 (hāi).
- To a large audience: start with 大家好 (dàjiā hǎo) — “hello everyone.”
According to the Confucius Institute Headquarters, greetings in Chinese express courtesy before content — showing awareness of the listener’s status is more polite than rushing into conversation.
If you’re curious about how this politeness contrasts with English greetings, check out Mandarin vs Chinese Language: Key Differences Explained.
Regional and Dialect Greetings
While 你好 (nǐ hǎo) is standard Mandarin, regional variations exist:
| Region | Greeting | Pronunciation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | 您好 (nín hǎo) | Formal, common in the north | Shows respect |
| Taiwan | 你好啊 (nǐ hǎo a) | Friendly, soft tone | Adds warmth |
| Cantonese | 你好 (néih hóu) | Hello in Cantonese | Used in Hong Kong & Guangdong |
| Singapore | 哈喽 (hā lóu) | English-influenced | Common among bilinguals |
This diversity reflects China’s linguistic richness — even a simple “hello” carries regional flavor.
Cultural Tips for Saying Hello
When greeting in person:
- A slight nod or smile is sufficient; handshakes are less firm than in Western culture.
- Avoid hugging or cheek-kissing unless very close friends.
- Address people by title or surname plus title (e.g., 王老师 Wáng lǎoshī for “Teacher Wang”).
In professional emails, start with 您好 (nín hǎo) followed by their name or title — it’s the most polite opening.
To learn how greetings fit into broader conversations, explore our Best Online Chinese Course for structured lessons with native-speaker models.
Example Dialogues
| English | Mandarin | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| A: Hello! | A: 你好！ | A: nǐ hǎo! |
| B: Hello, teacher. | B: 老师您好。 | B: lǎoshī nín hǎo. |
| A: Good morning, everyone. | A: 大家早上好！ | A: dàjiā zǎoshang hǎo! |
| B: Hi! How are you? | B: 嗨！你好吗？ | B: hāi! nǐ hǎo ma? |
These exchanges show how greetings adapt to context and relationship — one of the subtleties that makes Mandarin fascinating to learn.
Final Thought:
Learning to say hello in Chinese (你好 nǐ hǎo) is more than vocabulary — it’s an introduction to Chinese values of harmony, respect, and connection.
With each greeting, you practice not just pronunciation but cultural empathy — a vital step toward fluency and understanding.