10 Greeting Phrases to Use with Strangers in Chinese

10 Greeting Phrases to Use with Strangers in Chinese

When learning a new language, greetings are one of the most important things to master—especially when you're meeting someone for the first time. In Chinese, greetings can range from formal and polite to casual and culturally specific. Knowing how to greet strangers properly can help you make a good first impression, show respect, and start conversations smoothly.

Here are 10 useful Chinese greeting phrases you can use when meeting strangers!

1. 你好 (nǐ hǎo) – Hello

This is the most basic and widely used greeting.
✅ Use it with anyone: strangers, colleagues, cashiers, or people you’ve just met.

2. 您好 (nín hǎo) – Hello (polite)

This is the polite version of “你好” using the respectful “您.”
✅ Use this when speaking to someone older, higher in status, or in formal situations.

3. 早上好 (zǎo shàng hǎo) – Good morning

✅ Great for polite morning greetings, especially in business or hotel settings.

Casual alternative: 早 (zǎo) – “Morning!”

4. 下午好 (xià wǔ hǎo) – Good afternoon

✅ Useful for greetings later in the day, particularly in emails or formal speech.

5. 晚上好 (wǎn shàng hǎo) – Good evening

✅ Use when greeting someone in the evening or at formal events.

6. 初次见面，请多关照 (chū cì jiàn miàn, qǐng duō guān zhào)

Nice to meet you (formal)

This phrase literally means "First time meeting, please take care of me."
✅ Common in formal or business introductions.

7. 很高兴认识您 (hěn gāo xìng rèn shí nín)

Very nice to meet you (polite)

✅ Use this when meeting someone for the first time, especially in professional settings.

8. 你贵姓？(nǐ guì xìng?) – What’s your surname? (polite)

This is a respectful way to ask for someone’s last name.
✅ Often used after an introduction or in formal business contexts.

9. 请问，你是哪里人？(qǐng wèn, nǐ shì nǎ lǐ rén?)

May I ask, where are you from?

✅ A polite way to start small talk or get to know someone new.

10. 最近还好吗？(zuì jìn hái hǎo ma?)

How have you been recently?

✅ A warm, friendly question you can ask someone you've met before or are meeting again.

In Summary

Final Thoughts

Whether you're traveling in China, meeting Chinese clients, or just making new friends, knowing the right greeting makes all the difference. Practice these 10 phrases and you’ll be well on your way to sounding confident and culturally respectful from the first hello!