HSK 1 – Lesson 5: Basic Greetings

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Lesson 5:

Lesson Overview
In this lesson, you will learn basic Mandarin Chinese greetings used in everyday conversations. These greetings are simple, polite, and essential for beginners.

1️⃣ Saying Hello

  • 你好 (nǐ hǎo) — Hello

  • 您好 (nín hǎo) — Hello (polite/formal)

📌 Use 您好 when speaking to elders or in formal situations.

2️⃣ Asking “How Are You?”

  • 你好吗？ (nǐ hǎo ma?) — How are you?

Common replies:

  • 我很好 (wǒ hěn hǎo) — I am very well

  • 还好 (hái hǎo) — So-so

  • 很好，谢谢 (hěn hǎo, xièxie) — Very well, thank you

3️⃣ Saying Thank You

  • 谢谢 (xièxie) — Thank you

  • 不客气 (bú kèqi) — You’re welcome

4️⃣ Saying Goodbye

  • 再见 (zài jiàn) — Goodbye

  • 明天见 (míngtiān jiàn) — See you tomorrow

5️⃣ Practice Tip

Practice greetings aloud every day. Try greeting yourself in the mirror or greeting friends using Mandarin.

Lesson Summary

  • Greetings are the foundation of communication.

  • Use polite forms when needed

  • Pronunciation and tone matter