Chinese (Mandarin)/Everyday Phrases

There are several phrases that may be useful to learn if you are going to visit China. All phrases have the Chinese characters as well as the pinyin spelling and tone intonation next to them. Pinyin is the convention officially adopted in China for transcribing Chinese characters into Western-style alphabet.

Greetings

• 你好 - nǐ hǎo - How are you; hello.
• 很好 - hěn hǎo - Very well.
• 我还不错 - wǒ hái bùcuò - I'm OK (not bad).
• 幸会 - xìnghuì - Very pleased to meet you (polite/formal address).
• 早上好 - zǎoshang hǎo - Good morning.
• 早安 - zǎo'ān - Good morning; have a peaceful morning.
• 晚上好 - wǎnshang hǎo - Good evening.
• 晚安 - wǎn'ān - Good evening / Good night; have a peaceful evening.
• 欢迎 - huānyíng - Welcome.

Yes and No

• 是 - shi4 - Yes; is so (literally: "is")
• 对 - dui4 - Yes; that's correct (literally: "correct").
• 不 - bu4 - Not.
• 不是 - bu4shi4 - Is not (literally: "not is").
• 唯 - wei3 - Yes/Hello (only used when answering the phone).
• Yao, xie xie." - (literally: "have, thank you").

Please and Thank You

• 请 - qǐng - please (do something).
• 拜托 - bai4tuo1 - please (informal).
• 谢谢 - xièxie - Thank you.
• 多谢 - duo1xie4 - Thanks a lot.
• 太客气 - tai4ke4qi - You are too courteous (polite).
• 不敢当 - bu4gan3dang1 - Thank you/I dare not accept the honor (chivalrous, harking a former age).
• 不客气 - bu4ke4qi - You are welcome/no need for formalities.
• 别客气 - bié kèqi - You are welcome/no need for formalities.
• 不谢 - bu2xie4 - Not at all/no need to thank me.
• 不用谢 - bu2yong4xie4 - Not at all/no need to thank me.
• 理当的 - li3dang1de - Certainly (it's only proper)/"courtesy demands it" (formal).
• 哪里 - na3li3 - Not at all (informal).

Getting Attention

• 对不起 - dui4buqi3 - Excuse me.

Apology

• 对不起 - dui4buqi - Sorry.
• 很对不起 - hen3dui4buqi3 - Very sorry.

Farewells

• 再见 - zai4jian4 - Goodbye; see you again.
• 明天见 - ming2tian1jian4- See you tomorrow.
• 回头见 - hui2tou2jian4 - See you.
• 拜拜 - baibai - Borrowed from English, Bye Bye.

Praise

• 恭喜 - gong1xi3 - Congratulations

Toast

• 干杯 - gan1bei1 - Cheers; bottom's up.

Finding the Bathroom

• 请问厕所在哪儿? - qing3wen4 ce4suo3 zai4 nar3 - Excuse me (may I ask), where is the toilet?
• 请问洗手间在哪里? - qing3wen4 xi3shou3jian1 zai4 na3li3 - Excuse me (may I ask), where is the washroom?