Direct answer
中文 · Mandarin Chinese with pinyin and simple pronunciation help.
你好
Romanization
Ni hao
Pronunciation
nee how
Daily · Chinese
How to say “hello” in Chinese
Learn how to say "hello" in Chinese: 你好 (Ni hao), with pronunciation, usage notes, examples, and related phrases.
safe
When to use it
Use it in everyday conversation. These phrases are broadly useful for travel, messaging, study, and normal social moments. 你好 is the standard Mandarin greeting. 您好 is more respectful and works well for formal service situations.
Examples
你好。
Hello.
你好，很高兴见到你。
Hello, nice to meet you.
Common mistakes
Do not translate "hello" word by word; use the full Chinese phrase as a unit.
Use romanization as a pronunciation hint, not as the normal written form.
Check the tone before using it: this version is marked safe.
FAQ
How do you say "hello" in Chinese?
Say 你好. The romanization is Ni hao, and the pronunciation is nee how.
Is 你好 formal or casual?
This version is marked safe. 你好 is the standard Mandarin greeting. 您好 is more respectful and works well for formal service situations.
When should I use "hello" in Chinese?
Use it in everyday conversation. These phrases are broadly useful for travel, messaging, study, and normal social moments. 你好 is the standard Mandarin greeting. 您好 is more respectful and works well for formal service situations.