Your First Conversation in Chinese

In this beginner conversation you’ll learn how to greet someone, ask how they are, introduce yourself and politely end a short conversation. By the end, you’ll be able to understand and practise one of the most common first conversations in Mandarin.

You'll learn:

✓ Saying hello
✓ Asking "How are you?"
✓ Introducing yourself
✓ Saying goodbye

Conversation

Listen to the complete conversation a few times while following the Chinese text. Once you’re comfortable, try listening without looking at the words and see how much you understand.

Person A: 你好！(Nǐ hǎo!)

Person B: 你好！(Nǐ hǎo!)

Person A: 你好吗？(Nǐ hǎo ma?)

Person B: 我很好，谢谢。你呢？(Wǒ hěn hǎo, xièxie. Nǐ ne?)

Person A: 我也很好。(Wǒ yě hěn hǎo.)

Person B: 再见！(Zàijiàn!)

Translation

Person A: Hello!

Person B: Hello!

Person A: How are you?

Person B: I’m very well, thank you. And you?

Person A: I’m well too.

Person B: Goodbye!

Vocabulary Spotlight (8 Words)

Language Notes

Notice that Chinese doesn’t use “am” or “are” here.

Instead of saying:

I am very good.

Chinese simply says:

我很好。

literally

I very good.

Try it yourself

Can you answer these?

• How would you say “Hello”?
• How would you say “I’m very well”?
• How would you thank someone?

Review

• ✓ Listen again
• ✓ Read aloud and shadow the audio
• ✓ Practise today’s vocabulary
• ✓ Explore further HSK 1 words