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Mandarin Chinese greetings with pinyin and tones

Twenty-one essential Mandarin Chinese greetings and phrases in simplified characters, with pinyin tone marks, meanings and tips on tone changes.

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The cards, front and back

  1. 1
    Front

    The four tones

    Back

    Mandarin syllables carry a tone that changes the meaning:

    • 1st, high and level: mā (妈, mother)
    • 2nd, rising: má (麻, hemp)
    • 3rd, dipping then rising: mǎ (马, horse)
    • 4th, falling: mà (骂, to scold)
    • Neutral, light and short: ma (吗, question word)
  2. 2
    Front

    Hello

    Back

    你好 (nǐ hǎo)

    Two third tones together: the first is said as a rising tone, so it sounds like ní hǎo.

  3. 3
    Front

    Hello (polite)

    Back

    您好 (nín hǎo)

    Use 您 (nín), the polite you, with older people, teachers and customers.

  4. 4
    Front

    Good morning

    Back

    早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo)

    Among friends you can just say 早 (zǎo).

  5. 5
    Front

    Good evening

    Back

    晚上好 (wǎnshang hǎo)

    Used as a greeting in the evening.

  6. 6
    Front

    Goodbye

    Back

    再见 (zàijiàn)

    Literally see you again.

  7. 7
    Front

    See you tomorrow

    Back

    明天见 (míngtiān jiàn)

    Swap the time word: 下周见 (xià zhōu jiàn) means see you next week.

  8. 8
    Front

    Thank you

    Back

    谢谢 (xièxie)

    The second syllable is in the neutral tone.

    Say: roughly SHYEH-shyeh

  9. 9
    Front

    You're welcome

    Back

    不客气 (bú kèqi)

    不 (bù) changes to a rising tone (bú) before a fourth tone.

  10. 10
    Front

    Sorry

    Back

    对不起 (duìbuqǐ)

    Used for a real apology.

  11. 11
    Front

    It's OK / Never mind

    Back

    没关系 (méi guānxi)

    The usual reply to 对不起.

  12. 12
    Front

    How are you?

    Back

    你好吗？ (nǐ hǎo ma?)

    Reply: 我很好，谢谢。 (wǒ hěn hǎo, xièxie: I'm well, thanks.)

  13. 13
    Front

    What's your name?

    Back

    你叫什么名字？ (nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?)

    Reply: 我叫安娜。 (wǒ jiào Ānnà: My name is Anna.)

  14. 14
    Front

    Nice to meet you

    Back

    很高兴认识你 (hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ)

    Literally very happy to know you.

  15. 15
    Front

    Yes, that's right / No

    Back

    对 (duì: correct) / 不是 (bú shì: it is not)

    Mandarin has no single word for yes; people often repeat the verb or say 对.

  16. 16
    Front

    Please (inviting)

    Back

    请 (qǐng)

    Example: 请坐。 (qǐng zuò: Please sit down.)

  17. 17
    Front

    Excuse me, may I ask...

    Back

    请问 (qǐngwèn)

    Example: 请问，洗手间在哪儿？ (qǐngwèn, xǐshǒujiān zài nǎr? Excuse me, where is the bathroom?)

  18. 18
    Front

    I don't understand (when listening)

    Back

    我听不懂 (wǒ tīng bu dǒng)

    Literally I listen but do not understand.

  19. 19
    Front

    Do you speak English?

    Back

    你会说英语吗？ (nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?)

    吗 (ma) at the end turns a statement into a yes or no question.

  20. 20
    Front

    How much is it?

    Back

    多少钱？ (duōshao qián?)

    Example: 这个多少钱？ (zhège duōshao qián? How much is this?)

  21. 21
    Front

    Where is...?

    Back

    ...在哪儿？ (... zài nǎr?)

    In the north people say 哪儿 (nǎr); in the south and Taiwan 哪里 (nǎlǐ) is more common.

  22. 22
    Front

    Excuse me / Sorry to bother you

    Back

    不好意思 (bù hǎoyìsi)

    A light apology or excuse me, for example when you bump into someone or need to interrupt. It is softer than 对不起.

How to use this template

This deck introduces everyday Mandarin Chinese greetings and survival phrases, written in simplified characters with pinyin and tone marks. The first card explains the four tones and the neutral tone; later cards point out the tone changes you hear in real speech, such as nǐ hǎo and bú kèqi. It suits beginners, travellers, school students and anyone preparing to speak with Mandarin-speaking friends or colleagues. Listen to each phrase in a dictionary app while you study in Learn mode, then switch to Test mode so spaced repetition can return to the phrases you find hardest. Print double-sided for practice anywhere.

Tips

  • Learn the tone with every word. The same syllable with a different tone is a different word.
  • Exaggerate the tones when practising, then relax them once you are confident.
  • Hum the tone shape before saying the word: flat, up, down-up or down.
  • Record yourself and compare with a native recording. Tones are easier to hear than to feel.
  • Recognise characters gradually. Start with 你, 好, 我 and 谢, which appear in many phrases.

Make it fit

  • Swap to traditional characters if you are learning for Taiwan or Hong Kong, for example 謝謝 and 對不起.
  • Add numbers one to ten and the measure word 个 (gè) for shopping.
  • Teachers can add classroom phrases such as 老师好 (lǎoshī hǎo: hello, teacher).
  • Add your own name in characters and practise introducing yourself.

Updated October 28, 2026

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