Spanish Phrase
你好 (Nǐ hǎo)
Meaning
This is the most common greeting in Mandarin Chinese, literally translating to 'You good'. It serves as a standard, polite way to acknowledge someone's presence regardless of the time of day.
When to use
Use this phrase when meeting someone for the first time, greeting a shopkeeper, or starting a conversation with a colleague. It is appropriate for most social situations that require a polite 'hello'.
✦Grammar Breakdown
你好
Tone Sandhi
When two third-tone characters (like Nǐ and hǎo) appear together, the first character changes to a second tone (rising) when spoken.
Pronouns
Nǐ is the informal 'you'. For elderly people or superiors, you would replace it with Nín.
🗨In Conversation
你好！
Hello!
你好！很高兴认识你。
Hello! Nice to meet you.
✕Common Mistakes
Ni hao ma?
Adding 'ma' turns the greeting into 'How are you?', which is actually used less frequently as a casual greeting than the simple 'Ni hao'.
↔Alternatives
您好 (Nín hǎo)
Hello (formal/respectful)
大家好 (Dàjiā hǎo)
Hello everyone
Cultural Tip
While 'Ni hao' is the standard textbook greeting, in very casual settings among friends, Chinese speakers might use 'Hi' or ask 'Have you eaten?' (Chī le ma?). However, using 'Ni hao' is always safe and considered polite for learners.