Greetings & Everyday Phrases
Mandarin Chinese is full of useful expressions for greetings and daily interactions. This guide goes over common phrases so you can start speaking immediately.
Greetings
Greetings set the tone for any interaction. Mandarin has several standard ways to say hello depending on context and time of day.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 早上好 | zǎoshang hǎo | Good morning |
| 上午好 | shàngwǔ hǎo | Good morning (late) |
| 下午好 | xiàwǔ hǎo | Good afternoon |
| 晚上好 | wǎnshang hǎo | Good evening |
| 你好 | nǐ hǎo | Hello |
| 您好 | nín hǎo | Hello (polite) |
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Everyday Phrases
Everyday phrases help you navigate common situations like thanking, apologizing, and asking for help. Practice these short sentences so they come naturally.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 谢谢 | xièxiè | Thank you |
| 不客气 | bú kèqì | You're welcome |
| 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | Sorry |
| 没关系 | méi guānxi | It's okay |
| 请问 | qǐngwèn | May I ask / Excuse me |
| 帮忙 | bāngmáng | Help (to help) |
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Asking Questions
Asking questions is essential for learning and getting around. Mandarin uses question particles like 吗 and question words like 什么 to turn statements into questions.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 什么 | shénme | What |
| 哪里 | nǎlǐ | Where |
| 什么时候 | shénme shíhòu | When |
| 怎么 | zěnme | How |
| 为什么 | wèishénme | Why |
| 吗 | ma | (question particle) |
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Farewells
Farewell expressions signal the end of an interaction and can vary from casual to polite. Mandarin also has phrases that imply you will see someone again soon.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 再见 | zàijiàn | Goodbye |
| 回头见 | huítóu jiàn | See you later |
| 明天见 | míngtiān jiàn | See you tomorrow |
| 保重 | bǎozhòng | Take care |
| 一会儿见 | yíhuìr jiàn | See you in a moment |
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Summary
Mandarin greetings and everyday phrases are short and formulaic, making them quick to memorize with a little practice. Focus on common expressions for nǐ hǎo 你好, xièxiè 谢谢, and question words like shénme 什么 to handle basic interactions smoothly.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025