你好 (nǐhǎo) is a common greeting in Mandarin that means 'hello.' It is used in both formal and informal contexts to acknowledge someone's presence or initiate a conversation. The phrase literally translates to 'you good,' reflecting well-wishing towards the person being greeted.
HSK 1, 16 strokes, Hard
nǐhǎo(ni3hao3) T3
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May 27, 2026
你好nǐhǎo(ni3hao3)
你好 (nǐhǎo) is a common greeting in Mandarin that means 'hello.' It is used in both formal and informal contexts to acknowledge someone's presence or initiate a conversation. The phrase literally translates to 'you good,' reflecting well-wishing towards the person being greeted.
Strokes16Frequency#—DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
Greeting someone with 你好 is foundational in Chinese culture, emphasizing the importance of relationships and social harmony. It reflects the value placed on politeness and respect in interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine greeting a friend by saying 'Niiiii, how are you?' to remember the pronunciation of 你好. Visualize two people meeting, smiling, and saying 'you good?' as a friendly way to connect, which helps recall the meaning and pronunciation.
About 你好
你好Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
习用语phrase (phr.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1ElementaryHSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 你好
Podcast: 你好
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AI Study Notes for 你好
Quick Contrast
您好 (nín hǎo) is a formal greeting, while 你好 (nǐ hǎo) is more casual.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine greeting a friend by saying 'Niiiii, how are you?' to remember the pronunciation of 你好. Visualize two people meeting, smiling, and saying 'you good?' as a friendly way to connect, which helps recall the meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Be mindful that 你好 can be used in most social situations, but in very formal contexts, other greetings like 您好 (nínhǎo) may be preferred. A common mistake is to use it as a farewell, while it is strictly a greeting.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, learners should focus on pronunciation and usage in everyday greetings. Connecting it to other basic phrases like 再见 (zàijiàn, goodbye) can enhance conversational skills.
Cultural Note
Greeting someone with 你好 is foundational in Chinese culture, emphasizing the importance of relationships and social harmony. It reflects the value placed on politeness and respect in interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly think that 你好 can be used to say goodbye. For example, saying '再见你好' is incorrect; instead, use '再见 (zàijiàn)' for goodbye.
AI-enhanced 2026-05-27
Pronunciation of 你好
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Cultural Notes for 你好
🏮Cultural insight
Greeting someone with 你好 is foundational in Chinese culture, emphasizing the importance of relationships and social harmony. It reflects the value placed on politeness and respect in interactions.
Frequently Asked Questions about 你好
Yes, 你好 is versatile and can be used in most situations, but be aware of more formal alternatives if the context requires.
您好 (nínhǎo) is a more respectful form of greeting, often used when addressing elders or in formal situations.
Yes, it is acceptable to start an email with 你好, especially in informal or semi-formal communications.
