Chinese

12 Ways to Say “Hello” in Chinese

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Saying hello is a fundamental social interaction and a way to greet someone in any language. When visiting Taiwan, learning to say hello in Chinese is essential, even if you’re not planning on seriously studying Mandarin Chinese. This article presents twelve ways to say hello in Chinese that you can use in different contexts while traveling in Taiwan. See also 10 ways to say goodbye in Chinese.

12 Ways to Say “Hello” in Chinese

More details and audio on each expression below.

ChineseBopomofoPinyinEnglish
ไฝ ๅฅฝใ„‹ใ„งห‡ ใ„ใ„ ห‡Nว hวŽoHello (general)
ๆ‚จๅฅฝใ„‹ใ„งใ„ฃหŠ ใ„ใ„ ห‡Nรญn hวŽoHello (formal)
ๆ—ฉๅฎ‰ใ„—ใ„ ห‡ ใ„ขZวŽo ฤnGood morning
ๅˆๅฎ‰ใ„จห‡ ใ„ขWว” ฤnGood afternoon
ๅ“ˆ็พ…ใ„ใ„š ใ„Œใ„จใ„›Hฤ luลHello (informal, youthful)
ๅ—จใ„ใ„žHฤiHi
ๅ˜ฟใ„ใ„ŸHฤ“iHey
ๆ€Ž้บผไบ†ใ„—ใ„ฃห‡ ใ„‡ใ„œห™ ใ„Œใ„œห™Zฤ›nmeleWhatโ€™s up?
ๅคงๅฎถๅฅฝใ„‰ใ„šห‹ ใ„ใ„งใ„š ใ„ใ„ ห‡Dร jiฤ hวŽoHello everyone
ไฝ ๅ€‘ๅฅฝใ„‹ใ„งห‡ ใ„‡ใ„ฃหŠ ใ„ใ„ ห‡Nวmen hวŽoHello, you all
ๅ–‚ใ„จใ„Ÿห‹WรจiHello (phone greeting)
ๅƒไบ†ๅ—Ž?ใ„” ใ„Œใ„œห™ ใ„‡ใ„šหŠChฤซ le ma?Have you eaten? (How are you?)
ๅฅฝไน…ไธ่ฆ‹ใ„ใ„ ห‡ ใ„ใ„งใ„กห‡ ใ„…ใ„จห‹ ใ„ใ„งใ„ขห‹HวŽo jiว” bรน jiร nLong time no see

ไฝ ๅฅฝ (ใ„‹ใ„งห‡ ใ„ใ„ ห‡ – Nว hวŽo)

The most common way to say hello in Chinese is ไฝ ๅฅฝ. This phrase is simple, easy to remember, and can be used in both formal and informal settings. In formal settings, you should say ๆ‚จๅฅฝ (ใ„‹ใ„งใ„ฃหŠ ใ„ใ„ ห‡)

ๆ—ฉๅฎ‰ (ใ„—ใ„ ห‡ ใ„ข – ZวŽo ฤn)

ๆ—ฉๅฎ‰ is a way of saying good morning in Taiwan. It is used to greet someone in the morning until around 11 am. The expression is often shortened by just saying ๆ—ฉ (ใ„—ใ„ ห‡).

ๅˆๅฎ‰ (ใ„จห‡ ใ„ข – Wว” ฤn)

ๅˆๅฎ‰ is a way of saying good afternoon in Chinese. It is used to greet someone in the afternoon from 12 noon until 2 pm.

ๅ“ˆ็พ… (ใ„ใ„š ใ„Œใ„จใ„› – Hฤ luล)

ๅ“ˆ็พ… is a Chinese transliteration of the English word “hello.” It is commonly used among young people or in informal settings.

ๅ—จ (ใ„ใ„ž – Hฤi)

ๅ—จ is a casual and friendly way of saying hello in Chinese. It is commonly used among friends or people of similar age. It is a transliteration of the English word โ€œhiโ€.

ๅ˜ฟ (ใ„ใ„Ÿ – Hฤ“i)

ๅ˜ฟ is another casual and friendly way of saying hello in Chinese. It can also be used to grab someone’s attention. It is a transliteration of the English word โ€œheyโ€.

ๆ€Ž้บผไบ† (ใ„—ใ„ฃห‡ ใ„‡ใ„œห™ ใ„Œใ„œห™ – Zฤ›nmele)

ๆ€Ž้บผไบ† is a way of saying “what’s up” or “what’s wrong” in Chinese. It is used to show concern for someone or to start a conversation.

ๅคงๅฎถๅฅฝ (ใ„‰ใ„šห‹ ใ„ใ„งใ„š ใ„ใ„ ห‡ – Dร jiฤ hวŽo)

ๅคงๅฎถๅฅฝ means “hello everyone” in Chinese. It is often used in group settings, such as meetings or gatherings.

ไฝ ๅ€‘ๅฅฝ (ใ„‹ใ„งห‡ ใ„‡ใ„ฃหŠ ใ„ใ„ ห‡ – Nวmen hวŽo)

ไฝ ๅ€‘ๅฅฝ means “hello, you all” in Chinese. It is also used to greet a group of people. Unlike ไฝ ๅฅฝ, the expression cannot be turned formal by replacing the first character with ๆ‚จ.

ๅ–‚ (ใ„จใ„Ÿห‹ – Wรจi)

ๅ–‚ is a way of saying hello over the phone in Chinese. It is also used to grab someone’s attention.

ๅƒไบ†ๅ—Ž? (ใ„” ใ„Œใ„œห™ ใ„‡ใ„šหŠ– Chฤซ le ma?)

In Chinese culture, asking if someone has eaten is a common way to say “how are you?” It reflects concern for health and is often heard between neighbors chatting during evening walks.

ๅฅฝไน…ไธ่ฆ‹ (ใ„ใ„ ห‡ ใ„ใ„งใ„กห‡ ใ„…ใ„จห‹ ใ„ใ„งใ„ขห‹ – HวŽo jiว” bรน jiร n)

ๅฅฝไน…ไธ่ฆ‹ means “long time no see” and is a warm way to greet someone after a long absence. It’s a common phrase in Chinese to reconnect with friends or acquaintances.

The ten ways to say hello in Chinese presented in this article offer various options to choose from based on the situation and person you’re greeting. Learning to say hello in Chinese can help you connect with people, break the ice, and build relationships, whether you’re with friends or attending a formal event. So, try out these different ways of saying hello and see where they take you!

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