How to say welcome in Chinese
"Welcome" in Chinese is 欢迎 (huān yíng). 欢迎 greets someone arriving; to say "you're welcome" after thanks, Chinese uses 不客气, never 欢迎.
Ways to say welcome
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 欢迎 | huān yíng | welcome | The default answer. |
| 欢迎欢迎 | huān yíng huān yíng | welcome, welcome! | Warm and lively, greeting guests at your door or a newcomer |
| 欢迎你 | huān yíng nǐ | welcome | Welcoming one person, such as a new classmate or visitor |
| 欢迎光临 | huān yíng guāng lín | welcome (to our shop) | Staff greeting customers as they walk into a shop or restaurant |
| 欢迎下次再来 | huān yíng xià cì zài lái | please come again | Staff or a host seeing customers or guests off |
| 热烈欢迎 | rè liè huān yíng | a warm welcome | Banners, opening speeches, official visits and other formal events |
What people say back
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 欢迎光临，请问几位？ | huān yíng guāng lín, qǐng wèn jǐ wèi? | Welcome! How many are you? |
| 欢迎你来我家玩！ | huān yíng nǐ lái wǒ jiā wán! | You're welcome to come over to my place any time! |
| 欢迎大家参加今天的会议。 | huān yíng dà jiā cān jiā jīn tiān de huì yì. | Welcome, everyone, to today's meeting. |
| 欢迎回来，路上辛苦了！ | huān yíng huí lái, lù shang xīn kǔ le! | Welcome back, you must be tired from the trip! |
The characters in 欢迎
Common mistakes
- "You're welcome" in reply to thanks is 不客气 (bù kè qi). Answering 谢谢 with 欢迎 is a classic translation mistake.
- 迎 is second tone: huān yíng, not huān yìng.
- 欢迎光临 is a shop and restaurant phrase. With friends arriving at your home, say 欢迎欢迎 or 快进来.
Related
- Polite phrases in Chinese: 不客气
- Thank you in Chinese: 谢谢
- Hello in Chinese: 你好
- China in Chinese: 中国
- All phrases and words
Frequently asked questions
How do you say welcome in Chinese?
欢迎 (huān yíng). Other ways: 欢迎欢迎 (huān yíng huān yíng); 欢迎你 (huān yíng nǐ); 欢迎光临 (huān yíng guāng lín).
How do you say you're welcome in Chinese?
Say 不客气 (bù kè qi) or 不用谢 (bù yòng xiè). 欢迎 only means welcome as a greeting.
What does 欢迎光临 mean?
欢迎光临 (huān yíng guāng lín) is what shop and restaurant staff say when you come in: "welcome, thanks for coming".
How do you say welcome to China in Chinese?
欢迎来到中国 (huān yíng lái dào zhōng guó), or more simply 欢迎来中国 (huān yíng lái zhōng guó).
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