1 · 40 words

Greetings and set phrases

What is said on meeting and parting, on thanking and apologising, and how people are addressed.

These phrases are learned whole, not built word by word, and many of them come with a fixed reply: 谢谢(xièxie) is met with 不客气(búkèqi), 对不起(duìbuqǐ) with 没关系(méiguānxi). People are addressed by surname and title, and the title comes after the name: 王(Wáng)先生(xiānsheng), 李(Lǐ)老师(lǎoshī). To an older person or a customer, 您(nín) replaces 你(nǐ).

The words

Verb (6)

谢谢(xièxie)thank you; to thankVerb1

谢谢(xièxie)你(nǐ)来(lái)看(kàn)我(wǒ)。Thank you for coming to see me.

请(qǐng)please; to invite; to treatVerb1

请(qǐng)喝(hē)茶(chá)。Please have some tea.

Stands before the verb; 我(wǒ)请(qǐng)你(nǐ) means “my treat”.

欢迎(huānyíng)to welcome; welcomeVerb1

欢迎(huānyíng)你(nǐ)来(lái)中国(Zhōngguó)！Welcome to China!

行(xíng)to be all right; OKVerb1

明天(míngtiān)上午(shàngwǔ)见(jiàn)，行(xíng)吗(ma)？See you tomorrow morning — is that all right?

The same character is read háng in 银行(yínháng).

小心(xiǎoxīn)to be careful; carefulVerb1

小心(xiǎoxīn)，水(shuǐ)很(hěn)热(rè)！Careful, the water is hot!

恭喜(gōngxǐ)to congratulate; congratulationsVerb1

恭喜(gōngxǐ)你(nǐ)找到(zhǎodào)新(xīn)工作(gōngzuò)！Congratulations on your new job!

Noun (3)

先生(xiānsheng)Mr; sirNoun1

张(Zhāng)先生(xiānsheng)在(zài)吗(ma)？Is Mr Zhang in?

After the surname: 王(Wáng)先生(xiānsheng), Mr Wang.

女士(nǚshì)Ms; madamNoun1

李(Lǐ)女士(nǚshì)，这(zhè)是(shì)您(nín)的(de)茶(chá)。Here is your tea, Ms Li.

师傅(shīfu)driver; master (polite address)Noun1

师傅(shīfu)，去(qù)火车站(huǒchēzhàn)。To the railway station, please.

How a taxi driver, a cook or a repairman is addressed.

Exclamation (1)

喂(wèi)hello (on the phone)Exclamation1

喂(wèi)，你(nǐ)在(zài)哪儿(nǎr)？Hello? Where are you?

On the phone often said wéi.

Phrase (30)

你好(nǐhǎo)helloPhrase1

你好(nǐhǎo)，我(wǒ)是(shì)李(Lǐ)华(Huá)。Hello, I'm Li Hua.

Spoken níhǎo: two third tones in a row.

您好(nínhǎo)hello (polite)Phrase1

王(Wáng)先生(xiānsheng)，您好(nínhǎo)！Hello, Mr Wang!

To a teacher, an older person or a customer.

大家好(dàjiāhǎo)hello, everyonePhrase1

大家好(dàjiāhǎo)，我(wǒ)叫(jiào)玛丽(Mǎlì)。Hello, everyone — my name is Mary.

早上好(zǎoshanghǎo)good morningPhrase1

早上好(zǎoshanghǎo)，妈妈(māma)！Good morning, Mum!

Among friends often just 早(zǎo).

晚上好(wǎnshanghǎo)good eveningPhrase1

晚上好(wǎnshanghǎo)，欢迎(huānyíng)来(lái)我(wǒ)家(jiā)。Good evening, welcome to our home.

晚安(wǎn'ān)good nightPhrase1

爸爸(bàba)，晚安(wǎn'ān)！Good night, Dad!

Said when parting at night or going to bed, never as a greeting.

再见(zàijiàn)goodbyePhrase1

大家(dàjiā)再见(zàijiàn)！Goodbye, everyone!

拜拜(bàibài)bye-byePhrase1

拜拜(bàibài)，明天(míngtiān)给(gěi)你(nǐ)打(dǎ)电话(diànhuà)。Bye, I'll call you tomorrow.

Borrowed from English; casual, among friends.

明天见(míngtiānjiàn)see you tomorrowPhrase1

我(wǒ)走(zǒu)了(le)，明天见(míngtiānjiàn)！I'm off — see you tomorrow!

不客气(búkèqi)you're welcomePhrase1

不客气(búkèqi)，这(zhè)是(shì)我(wǒ)应该(yīnggāi)做(zuò)的(de)。You're welcome — it was the least I could do.

不用谢(búyòngxiè)don't mention itPhrase1

不用谢(búyòngxiè)，我们(wǒmen)是(shì)朋友(péngyou)。Don't mention it — we're friends.

对不起(duìbuqǐ)sorryPhrase1

对不起(duìbuqǐ)，我(wǒ)来(lái)晚(wǎn)了(le)。Sorry I'm late.

For a real fault; to ask a stranger something, 请问(qǐngwèn).

没关系(méiguānxi)it doesn't matter; that's all rightPhrase1

没关系(méiguānxi)，你(nǐ)明天(míngtiān)再(zài)来(lái)吧(ba)。That's all right — come again tomorrow.

没事(méishì)it's nothing; I'm finePhrase1

我(wǒ)没事(méishì)，你(nǐ)别(bié)担心(dānxīn)。I'm fine, don't worry.

Casual; also the answer to “are you all right?”.

没问题(méiwèntí)no problemPhrase1

没问题(méiwèntí)，我(wǒ)明天(míngtiān)去(qù)。No problem, I'll go tomorrow.

请问(qǐngwèn)excuse me, may I askPhrase1

请问(qǐngwèn)，银行(yínháng)在(zài)哪儿(nǎr)？Excuse me, where is the bank?

请进(qǐngjìn)come in, pleasePhrase1

门(mén)没(méi)关(guān)，请进(qǐngjìn)！The door's open — come in!

请坐(qǐngzuò)please sit downPhrase1

请坐(qǐngzuò)，你(nǐ)想(xiǎng)喝(hē)什么(shénme)？Please sit down — what would you like to drink?

欢迎光临(huānyíngguānglín)welcome (to customers)Phrase1

欢迎光临(huānyíngguānglín)，几(jǐ)位(wèi)？Welcome — how many of you are there?

Said by staff in shops and restaurants; nobody answers it.

好久不见(hǎojiǔbújiàn)long time no seePhrase1

好久不见(hǎojiǔbújiàn)，你(nǐ)好(hǎo)吗(ma)？Long time no see — how are you?

很高兴认识你(hěngāoxìngrènshinǐ)nice to meet youPhrase1

我(wǒ)叫(jiào)大卫(Dàwèi)，很高兴认识你(hěngāoxìngrènshinǐ)。My name is David — nice to meet you.

贵姓(guìxìng)your surname (polite)Phrase1

请问(qǐngwèn)，您(nín)贵姓(guìxìng)？May I ask your surname?

Only in the question 您(nín)贵姓(guìxìng); the answer uses plain 姓(xìng).

好的(hǎode)OK; all rightPhrase1

好的(hǎode)，我(wǒ)要(yào)这(zhè)个(ge)。OK, I'll take this one.

慢走(mànzǒu)take care (to a departing guest)Phrase1

慢走(mànzǒu)，欢迎(huānyíng)再(zài)来(lái)！Take care — do come again!

Literally “walk slowly”; said by the host, not by the one leaving.

干杯(gānbēi)cheersPhrase1

来(lái)，大家(dàjiā)干杯(gānbēi)！Come on, everyone — cheers!

Literally “dry the glass”.

加油(jiāyóu)come on; keep goingPhrase1

加油(jiāyóu)，你(nǐ)一定(yídìng)行(xíng)！Come on — you can do it!

Literally “add oil”; said to anybody making an effort.

生日快乐(shēngrìkuàilè)happy birthdayPhrase1

小(Xiǎo)明(Míng)，生日快乐(shēngrìkuàilè)！Happy birthday, Xiao Ming!

新年快乐(xīnniánkuàilè)Happy New YearPhrase1

新年快乐(xīnniánkuàilè)，爷爷(yéye)奶奶(nǎinai)！Happy New Year, Grandpa and Grandma!

辛苦了(xīnkǔle)thank you for your hard workPhrase1

今天(jīntiān)大家(dàjiā)辛苦了(xīnkǔle)！Thank you all for your hard work today!

Thanks somebody for effort rather than for a favour.

麻烦你(máfannǐ)could you please; sorry to trouble youPhrase1

麻烦你(máfannǐ)开(kāi)一下(yíxià)门(mén)。Could you open the door, please?

This list belongs to Greetings and conversation — six lists and 240 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.