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March 24, 2026
打招呼dǎzhāohu(da3zhao1hu5)
打招呼 (dǎ zhāohū) means to greet someone verbally or through gestures, often to acknowledge their presence. It can also refer to giving someone prior notice about something, making it a versatile phrase in social and formal contexts.
Frequency#5296DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, greeting someone appropriately is important for maintaining relationships, and 打招呼 is a common way to show respect or acknowledgment in both casual and professional settings.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person waving hello (打) while shouting (招) to get someone's attention, combining both action and words to create a greeting. The sound 'da' can remind you of 'dance' as you wave, while 'zhao' sounds like 'shout' to signify greeting.
Meanings of 打招呼
dǎzhāohu(da3zhao1hu5)
1to greet sb by word or action
2to give prior notice
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About 打招呼
打招呼Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#5296Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 打招呼
Podcast: 打招呼
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AI Study Notes for 打招呼
Quick Contrast
问候 (wènhòu) - use 打招呼 for casual greetings, while 问候 is more formal or conveys concern.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person waving hello (打) while shouting (招) to get someone's attention, combining both action and words to create a greeting. The sound 'da' can remind you of 'dance' as you wave, while 'zhao' sounds like 'shout' to signify greeting.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include using this expression in overly formal situations where a simple 'hello' suffices. It's generally informal, so avoid using it in very serious contexts. A common collocation is '打招呼' with friends or colleagues.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 打招呼 connects well with other social interaction terms like 见面 (jiànmiàn, to meet) and 问候 (wènhòu, to inquire after someone's well-being). Students should focus on recognizing its use in dialogues and practicing it in different scenarios.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, greeting someone appropriately is important for maintaining relationships, and 打招呼 is a common way to show respect or acknowledgment in both casual and professional settings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 打招呼 with simply saying hello, neglecting the action component. For example, saying '我打招呼' (I greet) without any physical gesture is incomplete; it should include an action like waving or nodding.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 打招呼
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Grammar Patterns of 打招呼
打招呼 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
tā xiǎng yòng yì dà lì yǔ dǎ zhāo hū， ， jié guǒ què shuō chéng le xī bān yá yǔ“ de “”， zài jiàn ”， měi cì wǒ dū bèi dòu dé hā。
He's trying to say hello in Italian and he says goodbye in Spanish, it creases me up every time.
Cultural Notes for 打招呼
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, greeting someone appropriately is important for maintaining relationships, and 打招呼 is a common way to show respect or acknowledgment in both casual and professional settings.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, greetings may be less formal but often involve physical gestures like handshakes or hugs, while in China, the emphasis is often on verbal acknowledgment and the context of the relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions about 打招呼
It's better to use a more formal greeting in emails, as 打招呼 is typically used in face-to-face interactions.
No, it can also mean giving prior notice, so context is key.
打招呼 is more about the act of greeting, while 问候 focuses on inquiring after someone's well-being.
