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Mandarin Chinese 1 Unit 2: Greetings and numbers

Greet people, introduce yourself and count to 99.

Covers: 你好, 谢谢, 再见, introductions with 叫 and 是, numbers 0–99

Study guide

Basic greetings include 你好 (nǐ hǎo, hello) and its polite form 您好 (nín hǎo), using 您 (nín) as the respectful "you" for elders and people you don't know. 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo) means good morning, and 晚安 (wǎn'ān) good night. 你好吗? (nǐ hǎo ma?) means "how are you?" and is answered 我很好 (wǒ hěn hǎo, I'm fine). Polite phrases include 谢谢 (xièxie, thank you), 不客气 (bú kèqi, you're welcome), 对不起 (duìbuqǐ, sorry), 没关系 (méi guānxi, it's okay) and 再见 (zàijiàn, goodbye).

To introduce yourself, use 我叫… (wǒ jiào…, my name is…) and ask 你叫什么名字? (nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?, what's your name?). The verb 是 (shì, to be) links nouns: 我是学生 (wǒ shì xuésheng, I am a student), 我是美国人 (wǒ shì Měiguó rén, I am American). Nationalities add 人 (rén, person) to a country name. 认识你很高兴 (rènshi nǐ hěn gāoxìng) means "nice to meet you."

Numbers are logical. 0–10 are 零 (líng), 一 (yī), 二 (èr), 三 (sān), 四 (sì), 五 (wǔ), 六 (liù), 七 (qī), 八 (bā), 九 (jiǔ), 十 (shí). Teens are 十 plus a digit: 十一 (11), 十五 (15). Tens put a digit before 十: 二十 (20), 三十 (30). Other numbers combine them: 二十一 (21), 九十九 (99). When counting things with a measure word, use 两 (liǎng) instead of 二 for "two": 两个人 (two people).

In China, 8 is considered lucky because it sounds like the word for prosperity, and 4 is avoided because it sounds like the word for death.

Give an age with a number + 岁 (suì), with no verb needed: 我十八岁. Ask a child 你几岁? Ask a teen or adult 你多大? Ask an older person politely 您多大年纪? 请 (qǐng) + verb makes a polite request or invitation: 请坐 (please sit), 请进 (please come in), 请喝茶 (please have some tea). It goes at the start, before the verb.

To give your surname, say 我姓王 (my surname is Wang). The polite way to ask is 您贵姓? (What is your honorable surname?), and the casual way is 你姓什么? Chinese names put the surname first: 王小明. Hundreds and thousands use 百 (bǎi) and 千 (qiān): 三百 (300), 两千 (2,000), 九百多 (over 900). Money is counted in 块 (kuài, spoken) or 元 (yuán, written), with 毛 (máo) for tenths: 五块五 (5.50). Ask a price with 多少钱?

When praised, Chinese speakers often respond modestly with 哪里哪里 or 没有. 怎么可能 (zěnme kěnéng) means "How could that be?" and expresses disbelief.

Key ideas

• 你好 (nǐ hǎo) hello; 谢谢 (xièxie) thank you; 再见 (zàijiàn) goodbye.
• 我叫… (wǒ jiào…) My name is…; 你叫什么名字？ What's your name?
• Numbers: 一 yī, 二 èr, 三 sān, 四 sì, 五 wǔ, 六 liù, 七 qī, 八 bā, 九 jiǔ, 十 shí.
• 11 = 十一 (ten-one); 20 = 二十 (two-ten); 35 = 三十五.
• 老师 (lǎoshī) teacher; 学生 (xuésheng) student.

Formulas and rules

Common mistakes

• Writing 十二 for 20 (that's 12).
• Using 您 with close friends (it's very polite).

Words to know

你好

hello (nǐ hǎo)

您好

hello (polite) (nín hǎo)

你好吗？

how are you? (nǐ hǎo ma?)

我很好

I'm fine (wǒ hěn hǎo)

早上好

good morning (zǎoshang hǎo)

晚安

good night (wǎn'ān)

谢谢

thank you (xièxie)

不客气

you're welcome (bú kèqi)

对不起

sorry (duìbuqǐ)

没关系

it's okay (méi guānxi)

再见

goodbye (zàijiàn)

明天见

see you tomorrow (míngtiān jiàn)

认识你很高兴

nice to meet you (rènshi nǐ hěn gāoxìng)

我

I / me (wǒ)

你

you (nǐ)

您

you (polite) (nín)

叫

to be called (jiào)

我叫…

my name is… (wǒ jiào…)

名字

name (míngzi)

你叫什么名字？

what's your name? (nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?)

姓

to be surnamed (xìng)

您贵姓？

what's your surname? (polite) (nín guìxìng?)

先生

Mr. / the gentleman (xiānsheng)

小姐

miss (xiǎojiě)

同学

classmate (tóngxué)

美国人

American (Měiguórén)

中国人

Chinese person (Zhōngguórén)

儿子

son (érzi)

女儿

daughter (nǚ'ér)

孩子

child (háizi)

男

male (nán)

女

female (nǚ)

医生

doctor (yīshēng)

律师

lawyer (lǜshī)

零

zero (líng)

一

one (yī)

二

two (èr)

三

three (sān)

四

four (sì)

五

five (wǔ)

Sample practice questions

49 more questions like these, from level 1 to 5, are in the practice set.