Greetings are the first words you use when meeting someone, and they are essential in making a good impression in any language. In Chinese, greetings can range from simple “hello” to more formal expressions depending on the time of day, social context, or relationship.
Learning these words will help you start conversations naturally and politely in daily life or social settings. In this blog-post, we will explore 15 essential Chinese greeting words and phrases with example sentences so you can understand how to use them in context.
Why Learning Greetings Is Important
Greetings are not just polite words—they convey respect, friendliness, and cultural understanding. For expats, using the right greeting can open doors in friendships, workplaces, and social activities. Chinese greetings often include cultural subtleties, so knowing them shows that you care about proper etiquette. By learning greetings, you’ll not only communicate effectively but also build better relationships with Chinese speakers.
Word 1: 你好 (nǐ hǎo) – Hello
This is the most common greeting used in daily life.
Example sentences
你好，我叫李明 (nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng)- Hello, my name is Li Ming.
你好，今天过得怎么样 (nǐ hǎo, jīn tiān guò de zěn me yàng)- Hello, how was your day today?
Word 2: 您好 (nín hǎo) – Hello (Polite)
Used when addressing someone respectfully, like elders or superiors.
Example sentences
您好，请问您叫什么名字 (nín hǎo, qǐng wèn nín jiào shén me míng zì)- Hello, may I ask your name?
您好，很高兴见到您 (nín hǎo, hěn gāo xìng jiàn dào nín)- Hello, nice to meet you.
Word 3: 早上好 (zǎo shàng hǎo) – Good Morning
A common morning greeting used until around 10 a.m.
Example sentences
早上好，你吃早餐了吗 (zǎo shàng hǎo, nǐ chī zǎo cān le ma)- Good morning, have you had breakfast?
早上好，今天心情怎么样 (zǎo shàng hǎo, jīn tiān xīn qíng zěn me yàng)- Good morning, how is your mood today?
Word 4: 下午好 (xià wǔ hǎo) – Good Afternoon
Used in the afternoon, typically after 12 p.m.
Example sentences
下午好，你在忙什么 (xià wǔ hǎo, nǐ zài máng shén me)- Good afternoon, what are you busy with?
下午好，我刚从公司回来 (xià wǔ hǎo, wǒ gāng cóng gōng sī huí lái)- Good afternoon, I just came back from the office.
Word 5: 晚上好 (wǎn shàng hǎo) – Good Evening
Used when greeting someone in the evening.
Example sentences
晚上好，你今天过得怎么样 (wǎn shàng hǎo, nǐ jīn tiān guò de zěn me yàng)- Good evening, how was your day today?
晚上好，我们去散步吧 (wǎn shàng hǎo, wǒ men qù sàn bù ba)- Good evening, let’s go for a walk.
Word 6: 再见 (zài jiàn) – Goodbye
The standard way to say goodbye in most situations.
Example sentences
再见，明天见 (zài jiàn, míng tiān jiàn)- Goodbye, see you tomorrow.
我先走了，再见 (wǒ xiān zǒu le, zài jiàn)- I am leaving now, goodbye.
Word 7: 拜拜 (bài bài) – Bye-Bye (Casual)
A casual and friendly way to say goodbye, often used among friends.
Example sentences
拜拜，晚上聊 (bài bài, wǎn shàng liáo)- Bye-bye, talk to you tonight.
他挥手说拜拜 (tā huī shǒu shuō bài bài)- He waved and said bye-bye.
Word 8: 好久不见 (hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn) – Long Time No See
Used when seeing someone after a long time.
Example sentences
好久不见，你最近怎么样 (hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn, nǐ zuì jìn zěn me yàng)- Long time no see, how have you been?
好久不见，我很想你 (hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn, wǒ hěn xiǎng nǐ)- Long time no see, I missed you a lot.
Word 9: 最近怎么样 (zuì jìn zěn me yàng) – How Have You Been Recently?
A polite follow-up after greeting someone.
Example sentences
你好，最近怎么样 (nǐ hǎo, zuì jìn zěn me yàng)- Hello, how have you been recently?
嘿，你好！最近怎么样 (hēi, nǐ hǎo! zuì jìn zěn me yàng)- Hey, hello! How have you been?
Word 10: 幸会 (xìng huì) – Pleased to Meet You (Formal)
Used in formal introductions.
Example sentences
幸会，很高兴认识您 (xìng huì, hěn gāo xìng rèn shí nín)- Pleased to meet you.
幸会，我是张伟 (xìng huì, wǒ shì Zhāng Wěi)- Pleased to meet you, I am Zhang Wei.
Word 11: 最近好吗 (zuì jìn hǎo ma) – How Are You Recently?
Another variation to check on someone’s well-being.
Example sentences
你好啊，最近好吗 (nǐ hǎo a, zuì jìn hǎo ma)- Hello, how are you recently?
最近好吗？我听说你换工作了 (zuì jìn hǎo ma? wǒ tīng shuō nǐ huàn gōng zuò le)- How have you been? I heard you changed jobs.
Word 12: 久仰 (jiǔ yǎng) – I’ve Heard About You (Formal)
Used when meeting someone notable for the first time.
Example sentences
久仰大名，很高兴见到您 (jiǔ yǎng dà míng, hěn gāo xìng jiàn dào nín)- I’ve heard about you, pleased to meet you.
久仰，我是李华 (jiǔ yǎng, wǒ shì Lǐ Huá)- I’ve heard about you, I am Li Hua.
Word 13: 欢迎 (huān yíng) – Welcome
Used to greet guests or new arrivals.
Example sentences
欢迎来到中国 (huān yíng lái dào Zhōng guó)- Welcome to China.
欢迎你加入我们的团队 (huān yíng nǐ jiā rù wǒ men de tuán duì)- Welcome to join our team.
Word 14: 恭喜 (gōng xǐ) – Congratulations
Often used in celebratory greetings, such as weddings, promotions, or achievements.
Example sentences
恭喜你生日快乐 (gōng xǐ nǐ shēng rì kuài lè)- Congratulations on your birthday.
恭喜你升职了 (gōng xǐ nǐ shēng zhí le)- Congratulations on your promotion.
Word 15: 平安 (píng ān) – Safe / Peaceful
Used as a greeting or blessing, often in letters, messages, or travel-related contexts.
Example sentences
祝你一路平安 (zhù nǐ yí lù píng ān)- Wishing you a safe journey.
希望你平安健康 (xī wàng nǐ píng ān jiàn kāng)- I hope you are safe and healthy.
Tips for Practicing Greetings
- Practice saying greetings at the correct time of day: 早上好 (zǎo shàng hǎo) in the morning, 下午好 (xià wǔ hǎo) in the afternoon, and 晚上好 (wǎn shàng hǎo) in the evening.
- Pay attention to formality: Use 您好 (nín hǎo) or 幸会 (xìng huì) in formal contexts and 你好 (nǐ hǎo) or 拜拜 (bài bài) with friends.
- Combine greetings with follow-up questions like 最近怎么样 (zuì jìn zěn me yàng) to make conversations more engaging.
- Use gestures like a slight bow or smile when greeting someone, as non-verbal cues are important in Chinese culture.
Practice Sentences Combining Multiple Words
你好，我叫王明，很高兴见到您 (nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào Wáng Míng, hěn gāo xìng jiàn dào nín)- Hello, my name is Wang Ming, pleased to meet you.
早上好，你最近好吗 (zǎo shàng hǎo, nǐ zuì jìn hǎo ma)- Good morning, how have you been recently?
欢迎来到我们的城市，希望你平安健康 (huān yíng lái dào wǒ men de chéng shì, xī wàng nǐ píng ān jiàn kāng)- Welcome to our city, I hope you are safe and healthy.
Vocabulary
- 你好 (nǐ hǎo)- hello
- 您好 (nín hǎo)- hello (polite)
- 早上好 (zǎo shàng hǎo)- good morning
- 下午好 (xià wǔ hǎo)- good afternoon
- 晚上好 (wǎn shàng hǎo)- good evening
- 再见 (zài jiàn)- goodbye
- 拜拜 (bài bài)- bye-bye (casual)
- 好久不见 (hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn)- long time no see
- 幸会 (xìng huì)- pleased to meet you (formal)
- 欢迎 (huān yíng)- welcome
- 恭喜 (gōng xǐ)- congratulations
- 平安 (píng ān)- safe / peaceful
- 最近怎么样 (zuì jìn zěn me yàng)- how have you been recently
- 最近好吗 (zuì jìn hǎo ma)- how are you recently
- 久仰 (jiǔ yǎng)- I’ve heard about you (formal)
This set of greetings allows you to confidently start and end conversations in Chinese while showing respect and cultural awareness. Using these words in daily interactions will help you build relationships and practice speaking naturally.