Nǐ Hǎo is Wrong?! How Chinese People Actually Greet|Beginner Chinese

do you think Chinese people always say ni hao when we meet if so I cannot blame you for that because it's everywhere in the textbook right but let me tell you the truth today in real daily life in China we almost never use it hi everyone I'm Shuai welcome back to my channel I know many foreign friends have Learned Chinese for a while but when they come to China they still feel awkward when greeting people

because what you learn is very different from what we actually use today I will show you exactly how Chinese people really greet in daily life not the textbook Chinese but the Chinese we actually use everyday okay first in the morning we usually say you see in Chinese we often add by the end of the sentence it's not required but with these particles

you sound much more natural and friendly repeat after me well in the afternoon or in the evening we like to say this is a special way of greeting in Chinese we turn what you are doing into simple questions but it's not a real question so you don't have to answer it very seriously just see it as a kind and friendly way to say hi

repeat after me and try to copy the tone also next one is the most famous and classic greeting in China but it really just mean hi how are you but here is an important rule we only use this one around the meal times like around breakfast around lunch or dinner that's when it sounds natural repeat after me next scenario is for when you meet friends or people you know

especially if you haven't seen them for a long time you can say if you want to sound even more natural you can add aiya it's just a Chinese speaking habit we always say this can make you sound very warm and sincere repeat after me watch the tone also OK you want them to feel that you are very passionate and you are very happy to see them one more time

next one is for when you meet neighbours colleagues or people that you don't want to develop a conversation at the moment you don't want to develop a small talk maybe because you are busy or whatever very often we don't say anything at all just nod or lift your chin and smile with eye contact

a very interesting note here there is a difference between nodding and lifting your chin if you nod at someone it's polite and safe like this you can do this to anyone like your colleagues your boss or elder people but if you lift your chin that's more for people at your age it's like saying hi in a very casual way practice with me next one

young people in China today love to say it's basically just hello in English but we usually say it twice in a row I don't know why but saying it once seems a little bit cold but twice sounds warm and casual and friendly repeat after me easy right OK last one when you greet elders teachers or relatives or strangers

we use more polite and respectful expressions because it's not ni hao it's nin hao ni in Chinese means you but Nin is more formal and respectful I cannot find an exact translation in English but if you know a bit German or Spanish it's like du und sie in German

or tu y usted in Spanish okay back to our scenario except for Nin Hao what else you can say you can also say it doesn't have to be your actual uncle you can use it with the strangers which is around your uncle's age same theory like the uncle doesn't have to be your actual aunt repeat after me so now you understand

you can say much more than你好in Chinese we say different things in the morning in the afternoon in the evening and we also say different things when we meet with different people if you remember this you will not feel awkward in China when you greet with people so next time when you meet a Chinese friend try to say and see what their reaction is that's all for today's real Chinese lesson

if you like this kind of practical everyday Chinese please don't forget to like and subscribe in the next video we will learn how to order in a Chinese restaurant see you next time bye bye 恭喜发财