Lingoku Team
Making Chinese characters less intimidating, one word at a time
The Two Ways to Write Hello
If you're learning Chinese, "hello" is probably your first word. But here's what beginners miss: there isn't just one way to write it.
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 你好 | nǐ hǎo | Hello (standard) | Friends, peers, casual situations |
| 您好 | nín hǎo | Hello (respectful) | Elders, teachers, bosses, formal |
Both mean "hello," but using the wrong one can sound either too casual or weirdly formal.
Breaking Down the Characters
你好 (Nǐ Hǎo) — Standard Hello
你 (nǐ) — You
好 (hǎo) — Good
Literally: "You good." This is Chinese grammar—state the subject, then the quality.
Stroke order for 你:
- Left side: 亻 (person radical)
- Right side: 尔 (you)
Stroke order for 好:
- Left: 女 (woman)
- Right: 子 (child)
(The character 好 combines woman + child = good/positive—a reflection of traditional values.)
您好 (Nín Hǎo) — Respectful Hello
您 (nín) — You (respectful)
好 (hǎo) — Good
The heart radical (心) underneath transforms 你 into 您, adding respect. Use this for:
- Your boss
- Teachers
- Elderly people
- Strangers in formal settings
- Customer service (as the customer)
3 Common Mistakes
1. Using 您好 with friends
You'll sound oddly stiff—like saying "How do you do?" to a roommate.
2. Using 你好 on the phone
Chinese people answer calls with 喂 (wèi)—not 你好. Saying hello when picking up sounds foreign.
3. Writing the characters wrong
- 你 — The person radical 亻 goes on the left, not the right
- 好 — The woman radical 女 has three strokes, not two
How to Actually Write Hello (Step by Step)
你好 — Nǐ Hǎo
你 (7 strokes):
1. ノ (down-left stroke)
2. 丨 (vertical line)
3. 𠄌 (second stroke of left radical)
4. ㇒ (small downward stroke)
5. 一 (horizontal line)
6. 亅 (hook)
7. 丶 (dot)
好 (6 strokes):
1. 𡿨 (down-left, woman radical)
2. ノ (down-left)
3. 一 (horizontal)
4. ㇇ (horizontal with hook, top of 子)
5. 丨 (vertical, middle of 子)
6. 一 (horizontal, bottom of 子)
Tip: Practice writing these 10 times each. Muscle memory matters more than perfect stroke order at the beginning.
When to Use Which Hello
| Situation | Use This | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting a friend | 你好 | Natural and casual |
| Meeting your teacher | 您好 | Shows respect |
| Texting someone your age | 你好 or 嗨 | 嗨 (hāi) is "hi" borrowed from English |
| Customer service call | 您好 | Expected politeness |
| Answering your phone | 喂 (wèi) | Standard phone greeting |
| Walking into a shop | 你好 | Neutral, works everywhere |
Beyond Hello: Related Greetings
Once you know 你好, these become easy:
| Greeting | Characters | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning | 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo) | Before noon |
| Good afternoon | 下午好 (xiàwǔ hǎo) | Noon–6pm |
| Good evening | 晚上好 (wǎnshang hǎo) | After 6pm |
| Goodbye | 再见 (zàijiàn) | Any time |
Notice the pattern? Add 好 (good) to the time of day.
FAQ: Writing Hello in Chinese
What's the difference between 你好 and 您好?
你好 (nǐ hǎo) is the standard "hello" for friends, peers, and casual situations. 您好 (nín hǎo) uses the respectful "您" and is for elders, teachers, bosses, or formal situations.
How do you write hello in Chinese characters?
Hello in Chinese is written as 你好. The first character 你 means "you," and the second 好 means "good." Together they literally mean "you good."
Is there a shorter way to say hello in Chinese?
Yes—just say 好 (hǎo) or nod and smile in very casual situations. Some young people also use 嗨 (hāi), borrowed from English "hi."
When should I not say 你好?
Avoid 你好 when answering the phone (use 喂 wèi instead), with very close friends (use 嗨 or just greet by name), or late at night (use 晚上好 wǎnshang hǎo for "good evening").
Practice Writing with Lingoku
Writing Chinese characters takes repetition. But seeing them in real contexts helps them stick faster than drilling alone.
With Lingoku:
- Browse Chinese websites or watch YouTube videos with Chinese subtitles
- When you see 你好 or 您好, hover for instant stroke order and pronunciation
- Save characters to your practice list
- See how natives actually use greetings in real conversations—not just textbook examples
Ready to write your first 你好? Install Lingoku and start recognizing Chinese characters in real content today.