Chinese · Greetings & Phrases
你好
Nǐ hǎo
Hello
Beginnerinterjection
Definition
The most common Chinese greeting, used at any time of day.
Example
你好！很高兴见到你。
Hello! Nice to see you.
Etymology
The term '你好' (Nǐ hǎo) combines '你' (nǐ, 'you') and '好' (hǎo, 'good'). It is a standard greeting in Mandarin Chinese and can be traced back to the development of Chinese to signify a polite way to inquire about someone's well-being.
How & Where It’s Used
'你好' is used in both formal and informal contexts, commonly among Mandarin speakers worldwide. It can be used in both spoken and written forms without regional limitations.