Greetings and everyday phrases in Chinese
The Chinese word for "greetings and everyday phrases" is 问候 (wèn hòu). Below are 25 Chinese words for greetings and everyday phrases, each with pinyin, English and its level in the new HSK 3.0 word list. They cover HSK 1 to HSK 4, in the order a learner meets them.
你好 is the all-purpose hello. 您好 is the polite form for someone older or senior.
The 9 words to learn first
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | HSK 3.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 你好 | nǐ hǎo | hello | 1 |
| 谢谢 | xiè xie | thank you | 1 |
| 不客气 | bù kè qi | you're welcome | 1 |
| 对不起 | duì bu qǐ | I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon | 1 |
| 没关系 | méi guān xi | it doesn't matter | 1 |
| 再见 | zài jiàn | goodbye | 1 |
| 请 | qǐng | please; to invite | 1 |
| 欢迎 | huān yíng | to welcome | 3 |
| 晚安 | wǎn ān | good night | 4 |
Greetings and Social Phrases HSK 1 lesson
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | HSK 3.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 喂 | wèi | hello (on the phone); hey | 1 |
Everyday Phrases HSK 1 lesson
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | HSK 3.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 请问 | qǐng wèn | excuse me, may I ask | 1 |
| 没有 | méi yǒu | not have; there is no | 1 |
| 不要 | bù yào | don't want; don't (do it) | 1 |
| 没事 | méi shì | it's nothing; no problem; I'm fine | 1 |
| 好看 | hǎo kàn | good-looking; good to watch or read | 1 |
| 好听 | hǎo tīng | nice to listen to | 1 |
| 好玩儿 | hǎo wánr | fun | 1 |
Common expressions & phrases HSK 4 lesson
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | HSK 3.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 来不及 | lái bu jí | there's not enough time (to do sth) | 4 |
| 来得及 | lái de jí | to have enough time; can do it in time; can still make it | 4 |
| 放暑假 | fàng shǔ jià | to be on summer vacation | – |
| 到处 | dào chù | everywhere | 3 |
| 起来 | qǐ lai | to get up; to stand up; (after a verb/adj) indicating the start of an action or state | 2 |
Requests, permission & obligation HSK 4 lesson
Every word links to its dictionary entry, with audio, example sentences and stroke order. The words are grouped by the GraphChinese lesson that teaches them, so a few in each group belong to the lesson and sit a little outside the topic.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say "greetings and everyday phrases" in Chinese?
问候 (wèn hòu), meaning "greeting; to send regards". The most common words in this topic are 你好 (nǐ hǎo, hello), 谢谢 (xiè xie, thank you), 不客气 (bù kè qi, you're welcome), 对不起 (duì bu qǐ, I'm sorry).
How many Chinese words for greetings and everyday phrases do I need?
This page lists 25, from HSK 1 to HSK 4. The 9 at the top are enough to start; the rest follow level by level.
What do the HSK levels on this page mean?
Each word shows where the new HSK 3.0 word list places it, from level 1 to the 7-9 band. A dash means the word is taught in the course and is not on the HSK 3.0 list. HSK 3.0, complete.
How do I pronounce these words?
The pinyin beside each word gives the sound and the tone. Each word links to its dictionary entry, where you can hear it. If the tone marks are new to you, start with the four tones, explained.
GraphChinese teaches these words in dependency order, with audio, and only moves on when each one is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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