不只會說「你好」

Not Just Nǐ Hǎo

Many Chinese learners first learn 你好 (nǐ hǎo), which means "hello." You can use it when you meet someone for the first time, or in a more formal situation. But with friends, classmates, or coworkers, people often say something more natural instead. Tap the speaker icon next to each example to hear it.

hāihi — casual, used in both Taiwan and Mainland China
zǎomorning — a short greeting used in both places
吃飯了嗎?chī fàn le ma?have you eaten? — common in Taiwan; doesn't need a serious answer, it's just a friendly greeting
你要去哪裡?nǐ yào qù nǎlǐ?where are you going? — common in Taiwan as a casual greeting, not a real question
吃了嗎?chī le ma?have you eaten? — the shorter Mainland version of the same greeting
最近怎麼樣?zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?how have you been? — common in Mainland China among friends and coworkers

So 你好 is useful, but it's not the only way to say hello. In real life, a small question — like asking if someone has eaten, or where they're headed — can make your Chinese sound warmer and more natural, even though it doesn't need a literal answer.

Taiwan and Mainland China share some of these greetings, like 嗨 and 早, but each place also has its own flavor — 吃飯了嗎 and 你要去哪裡 feel very Taiwanese, while 最近怎麼樣 is more commonly heard in Mainland China. Listening for these small differences is a great way to sound more like a local wherever you are.