EverydayNeutral and friendly
你好
Hello
Useful when meeting someone or opening a conversation. Close friends often use names or a casual greeting instead.
A natural reply
你好Hello
Home / Everyday Mandarin
Everyday Mandarin
How to say hello in Chinese
你好 (nǐ hǎo) is the familiar Mandarin greeting “hello”. Choose a greeting that fits the person in front of you.
RespectfulPolite
您好
Hello (respectful)
A respectful greeting for an elder, a customer or someone in a formal setting. Local habits differ.
A natural reply
您好Hello
Work & studyWelcoming a group
大家好
Hello, everyone
Use at the start of a class, meeting or group introduction. 大家 means “everyone”.
A natural reply
你好Hello