Portuguese Phrase
Nǐ hǎo
Meaning
Nǐ hǎo is the most fundamental greeting in Mandarin Chinese, literally translating to 'you good'. It serves as a polite and standard way to acknowledge someone, regardless of the time of day or the specific social setting.
When to use
Use this phrase when meeting someone for the first time, greeting a shopkeeper, or starting a conversation with an acquaintance. It is the safest and most common way to say hello in any general context.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nǐhǎo
Nǐ (你)
This is the second-person singular pronoun meaning 'you'. It can be changed to 'nín' (您) to show extra respect to elders or superiors.
Hǎo (好)
This adjective means 'good' or 'well'. In Mandarin, combining a pronoun with 'hǎo' is the standard way to form a greeting.
🗨In Conversation
Nǐ hǎo!
Hello!
Nǐ hǎo! Hěn gāoxìng rènshí nǐ.
Hello! Nice to meet you.
✕Common Mistakes
Nǐ hǎo ma?
Learners often add 'ma' thinking it is a standard hello, but this actually means 'How are you?' and is used much less frequently than a simple greeting.
Nǐ hǎo for a teacher
When speaking to a superior or teacher, it is more respectful to use 'Nín' instead of 'Nǐ'.
↔Alternatives
Nín hǎo
Hello (formal/respectful)
Dàjiā hǎo
Hello everyone
Zǎo
Morning!
Cultural Tip
In Chinese culture, while 'Nǐ hǎo' is the standard greeting, close friends often use more informal phrases or ask 'Have you eaten?' (Chīle ma?) to show familiarity. Additionally, due to tone sandhi rules, the first word 'Nǐ' is pronounced with a rising second tone because it is followed by another third tone.