Bookmark This Lesson

Outline

你 好(Wish) You good = Helloto say hello to the person who is around your age
nǐ hǎo
您 好(Wish) You good = Helloto say hello to the person older than you or your superior or your clients
nín hǎo

Dialogue

Note: Common greetings between colleagues
A:!
hǎo!

Hello! (Wish you a good day!)

Download
B:!
nínhǎo!

Hello! (The same to you!)

Download
Note: Common greetings between teacher and student
A:!
lǎoshī,nínhǎo!

Hello, teacher! (polite)

Download
B:Sam!
hǎo,Sam!

Hello, Sam!

Download

Vocabulary

pron. you
nínpron. you (respectful use: courteous, as opposed to informal 你)
hǎoadj. good (in this lesson)

Expansion

Other common greatings: How to say "Good Morning", "Good Afternoon", "Good Evening"in Chinese
早 上 好
zǎo shàng hǎo

Tips: The word "早上"(zǎo shàng ) means morning, "好"(hǎo) means good.

早 上 + 好 = 早 上 好(Morning + good= Good morning)
zǎo shàng + hǎo = zǎo shàng hǎo

A:!
zǎoshànghǎo,lǎoshī!

Good morning, teacher!

Download
B:!
zǎoshànghǎo!

Good morning!

Download
下午好
xià wǔ hǎo

Tips: The word "下午"(xià wǔ) means afternoon, "好"(hǎo) means good.

下午 + 好 = 下午好(Afternoon + good= Good afternoon)
xià wǔ + hǎo = xià wǔ hǎo

A:!
xiàhǎo!

Good afternoon!

Download
B:!
xiàhǎo!

Good afternoon!

Download
晚 上 好
wǎn shàng hǎo

Tips: The word "晚上"(wǎn shàng ) means evening, “好”(hǎo) means good.

晚 上 + 好 = 晚 上 好(Evening + good= Good evening)
wǎnshàng + hǎo = wǎn shàng hǎo

A:!
wǎnshànghǎo!
Good evening!
Download
B:!
wǎnshànghǎo!
Good evening!
Download

Grammar

VS
nǐn

(nǐ) means you (informal), as opposed to courteous 您.
The person spoken to or written to is around your age or social position, such as your classmates, colleagues, your junior.

(nín) means you (polite) as opposed to informal 你.
The person spoken to or written to is older than you, such as your superior or your client.

Contrasting Examples:

A:,!
nǎinai,nínhǎo!

Hello, grandma! (polite)

Download
B:,Tom!
hǎo,Tom!

Hello, Tom! (informal)

Download

Exerises

What’s the meaning of the word and how to pronounce

Chinese charactersShow answersShow pinyin
pron. you (informal)
nínpron. you (courteous)
hǎoadj. good