How to say “hello” in Chinese
The short answer
你好
nǐ hǎonee how
Hello in Mandarin Chinese is 你好 (nǐ hǎo). Both words use the dipping third tone, but the first one changes to a rising tone when they are said together.
5 ways to say hello in Chinese
你好
nǐ hǎonee how
Means: Hello
Use it: Everyday greeting.
您好
nín hǎoneen how
Means: Hello (polite)
Use it: Elders, customers, formal settings.
大家好
dàjiā hǎodah-jyah how
Means: Hello everyone
Use it: Addressing a group.
喂
wéiway
Means: Hello?
Use it: Answering the phone.
早上好
zǎoshang hǎodzow-shahng how
Means: Good morning
Use it: Mornings.
Pronunciation tips
- Tones change meaning in Mandarin, so listen to the audio and copy the pitch, not just the sounds.
More in Chinese
Audio is AI-generated by SayHowTo for learning. Accents vary by country and region.