Chinese · A1 (Beginner)
Greetings in Chinese: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Chinese words for greetings are 你好 (Hello), 谢谢 (Thank you) and 对不起 (Sorry / Excuse me). The full Chinese greetings phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Chinese vocabulary for greetings, with example sentences and English translations. This is A1 (Beginner) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Chinese to live, work, or settle abroad.
Source: Language Lab's Chinese curriculum (vocabulary & example sentences). · Join the beta →
Key greetings vocabulary
| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
| 你好 | Hello |
| 谢谢 | Thank you |
| 对不起 | Sorry / Excuse me |
| 是 | Yes / It is |
| 不是 | No / It is not |
| 早上好 | Good morning |
| 晚上好 | Good evening |
| 再见 | Goodbye |
| 很高兴认识你 | Nice to meet you |
| 请多关照 | Please take care of me |
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
Practice Chinese that actually sticks.
Language Lab teaches the Chinese you need to live abroad — with a live AI tutor. Coming soon.
Join the beta →