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Chinese greetings: formal and casual

English uses “hello” in many situations, but Mandarin speakers often choose a greeting based on the relationship and the moment. The safest choice is not always the most literal translation. Use the examples below as a starting point, then listen to how people greet each other in real conversations.

你好 nǐ hǎo: the neutral default

你好 works when meeting someone for the first time, speaking to a shop assistant, starting a phone call, or addressing a person you do not know well. It is polite without sounding stiff.

The two written syllables are both third tone, but the first one is usually pronounced as a rising tone before the second third tone: ní hǎo. You may also hear a name, title, or a question replace a repeated 你好 between people who already know each other.

你好，我是 Maya。
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ shì Maya. — Hello, I’m Maya.

您好 nín hǎo: respectful you

您好 uses 您, the respectful form of “you”. Use it with an older person, a teacher, a customer, or someone you want to address formally. It can sound warm and professional, but using it with every friend would feel unnecessarily formal.

In a service setting, a greeting with the person’s role can be even more natural: 老师好 (hello, teacher) or 王老师好 (hello, Teacher Wang). A title is usually placed before 好.

Casual and group greetings

嗨 hāiCasual “hi”, common among friends and in messages. It is not the best choice for every workplace or first meeting.
大家好 dàjiā hǎoHello everyone. Use it when speaking to a group, such as a class, audience, or team.
早 zǎoA short, friendly “morning”. It is more conversational than the full phrase 早上好.
最近怎么样？“How have you been lately?” Often more natural than a formulaic hello between familiar people.

A simple choice guide

  1. Meeting someone new or speaking to a stranger? Start with 你好.
  2. Speaking to an older person, teacher, or customer? Choose 您好 or a respectful title plus 好.
  3. Greeting several people? Use 大家好.
  4. Greeting a close friend? 嗨, 早, a name, or a question about their day may sound more natural.

The greeting is only the opening. A relaxed voice, a smile, and a follow-up question usually communicate more warmth than adding extra words.

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