Greetings, Thanks and Apologies in Mandarin
A few courtesies do a surprising amount of work. Saying 谢谢 at the right moment, or 不好意思 when you squeeze past someone, changes how an interaction goes before you have said anything else.
There is one rule worth knowing early: 谢谢 and 对不起 are less automatic than 'thanks' and 'sorry' in English. Chinese speakers reach for them deliberately, and over-apologizing can read as odd. Here is where each one fits.
Greetings
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 你好 | Nǐ hǎo | Hello The neutral greeting. Fine for shopkeepers, hotel staff and strangers. | |
| 您好 | Nín hǎo | Hello (polite) Nín is the respectful form. Use it with older people, officials and anyone you want to flatter. | |
| 早上好 | Zǎoshang hǎo | Good morning Good for hotels and breakfast stalls before about 9am. | |
| 好久不见 | Hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn | Long time no see Only for someone you have actually met before. It is not a general opener. |
Thanks and replies
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 谢谢 | Xièxie | Thank you The second syllable is neutral — say 'shyeh-shyeh' quickly, not 'shyeh-shyeh' with two equal stresses. | |
| 多谢 | Duōxiè | Thanks a lot A touch warmer. Common in the south and in service settings. | |
| 不用谢 | Bú yòng xiè | You're welcome Also 不客气 bú kèqi — the two are interchangeable. | |
| 麻烦你了 | Máfan nǐ le | Sorry to trouble you Said after someone has gone out of their way to help. There is no clean English equivalent and it lands well. |
Apologies and getting past people
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 对不起 | Duìbuqǐ | I'm sorry For genuinely having done something wrong. Heavier than the English word 'sorry'. | |
| 不好意思 | Bù hǎoyìsi | Excuse me / my bad Your everyday word for squeezing past, interrupting or asking a small favour. Use this far more often than 对不起. | |
| 没关系 | Méi guānxi | It doesn't matter The standard reply when someone apologizes to you. Also 没事 méi shì. | |
| 请问 | Qǐngwèn | Excuse me, may I ask Opens a question politely: 请问，洗手间在哪里？ — Excuse me, where is the restroom? | |
| 请帮我一下 | Qǐng bāng wǒ yíxià | Please help me for a moment A useful opener when you need a hand with luggage or a photo. |
Goodbyes
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 再见 | Zàijiàn | Goodbye The formal-ish goodbye. Perfect for leaving a shop or ending a call. | |
| 拜拜 | Báibái | Bye bye Borrowed straight from English and completely normal among friends and young staff. | |
| 慢走 | Màn zǒu | Take care (as you leave) What a host or shopkeeper says to you on the way out. You will hear it far more than you say it. |