Learn basic greetings
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| Taiwanese Mandarin Survival Phrases Lesson 4: Basic Greetings |
| In this lesson, you will learn basic greetings. |
| Here’s the first greeting: |
| The phrase “How are you?” in Chinese is 你好嗎(Nǐ hǎo ma). |
| Let’s break it down by tone: |
| First, we have 你(Nǐ). |
| Next, we have 好(hǎo). This is in third tone. |
| Last, we have 嗎(ma). This has no tone. |
| Usually 你(Nǐ) is in third tone. But because it is followed by another third tone, it becomes second tone. |
| Next, let’s break it down by meaning: |
| 你(nǐ) means "you." |
| 好(hǎo) means "good." |
| 嗎(ma) makes the sentence a question. |
| Literally, this phrase means, “You good?” But when translated, it means “How are you?” |
| Altogether we have 你好嗎(Nǐ hǎo ma)? |
| Listen again, one more time, slowly: |
| [Slow] 你好嗎(Nǐ hǎo ma)? |
| [Normal] 你好嗎(Nǐ hǎo ma)? |
| The second phrase is the shorter greeting 你好 (Nǐ hǎo). This means “Hello.” |
| Listen again, one more time slowly. |
| [Slow] 你好(Nǐ hǎo). |
| [Normal] 你好(Nǐ hǎo). |
| The tones for this phrase are the same as the first greeting, 你好嗎(Nǐ hǎo ma). |
| 嗎(ma) makes the sentence a question. So, when you just say the short phrase, 你好(Nǐ hǎo), the phrase becomes “Hello.” |
| The final greeting, “Good morning,” is 早安(Zǎo ān) in Chinese. |
| Let’s break it down by tone: |
| First we have 早 (Zǎo). This is in third tone. |
| Last we have 安(ān). This is in first tone. |
| Next, let’s break it down by meaning: |
| 早(zǎo) means "morning." |
| 好(hǎo) means "good." |
| Literally, it means "Morning good,” but can be translated in English to mean “Good morning.” |
| Altogether, we have 早安(Zǎo ān). |
| Listen again, one more time, slowly: |
| [Slow] 早安(Zǎo ān). |
| [Normal] 早安(Zǎo ān). |
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