Greetings, Thanks and Apologies
Hello and goodbye, thank you and you're welcome, sorry and never mind -- the phrases you'll use every day.
Hello and goodbye
你好 (nǐ hǎo) is the all-purpose "hello" -- literally "you good." To be more respectful (an older person, a customer, a teacher), use the polite "you," 您 (nín): 您好 (nín hǎo). To greet a group, say 你们好 (nǐmen hǎo) or 大家好 (dàjiā hǎo) ("hello, everyone").
In the morning you'll also hear 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo), or just 早 (zǎo) among friends.
再见 (zàijiàn) means "goodbye" (literally "again see"). If you'll see the person tomorrow, 明天见 (míngtiān jiàn) ("see you tomorrow") is friendlier.
Quick check
1. You meet your friend's grandmother. Which greeting fits best?
2. What does 你们好 mean?
Thank you and you're welcome
谢谢 (xièxie) is "thank you"; 谢谢你 (xièxie nǐ) or 谢谢您 (xièxie nín) adds "you." The usual reply is 不客气 (bú kèqi) -- literally "don't be polite" -- or simply 不用谢 (búyòng xiè) ("no need to thank").
请 (qǐng) means "please" when you invite someone to do something: 请进 (qǐng jìn) ("please come in"), 请坐 (qǐng zuò) ("please sit down").
Quick check
1. Someone says 谢谢 to you. What do you reply?
Sorry and never mind
对不起 (duìbuqǐ) is "sorry" for something you did -- bumping into someone, being late. The reply is 没关系 (méi guānxi): "it doesn't matter, never mind."
To get someone's attention before a question, use 请问 (qǐngwèn), "may I ask...": 请问，你是王老师吗？ (Qǐngwèn, nǐ shì Wáng lǎoshī ma?) ("Excuse me, are you Teacher Wang?").
Quick check
1. Someone apologises with 对不起. What's the natural reply?
Try it yourself
Write a sentence or two using what this lesson covered. Not graded -- just for you, saved so you can come back to it.
Pick with a tap, a number key or Space. A Chinese keyboard on your device works in the box below too.
Final review
0/18 answered across this lesson
1. Match each phrase to its meaning.
2. Match each phrase to its usual reply.
3. Which word makes 你 plural?
4. Complete the greeting (characters or pinyin).
5. Complete (characters or pinyin).
6. Translate into English.
7. Say it in Chinese (characters or pinyin).
8. Say it in Chinese (characters or pinyin).
9. Say it in Chinese (characters or pinyin).
10. Say it in Chinese (characters or pinyin).
11. What did you hear?
12. Listen, then record yourself saying it.
你好！谢谢！再见！
Tip: Remember: nǐ hǎo is said ní hǎo.
13. Say it in Chinese (characters or pinyin).
14. Say it in Chinese (characters or pinyin).