المقدمة، الهوية والمبادلات المهذبة

A first meeting

• You meet a new classmate. Start with one useful word: hello你好nǐ hǎo — hello.
• Listen, then repeat. Pinyin is a guide to sound: nǐ hǎo. You do not need to memorise every character today.

Three more useful phrases

• to thank谢谢xiè xiè xièxie — thank you; not不bùpolite客气kè qì bú kèqi — you’re welcome. The second syllable of to thank谢谢xiè xiè is light.
• I'm sorry对不起duì bù qǐ duìbuqǐ — sorry; goodbye再见zài jiàn zàijiàn — goodbye. Learn these as whole phrases.

Choose by the situation

• A classmate lends you a pen: to thank谢谢xiè xiè. They reply: not不bùpolite客气kè qì. A compliment can also be answered with to thank谢谢xiè xiè.
• You bump into someone: I'm sorry对不起duì bù qǐ. You leave: goodbye再见zài jiàn. hello你好nǐ hǎo is not limited to one time of day.

Try listening before reading

• Play this phrase and choose its meaning in the practice.
• Replay as often as you need. If playback is unavailable, read the phrases aloud; that is reading practice rather than a listening check.

Use it with someone

• Without looking, greet a classmate, thank them for a pen, and say goodbye. Alone? Say both parts of the example, then change the situation.
• Tomorrow, recall the three phrases before reopening this page. If one is missing, listen and repeat it again.

Next: say your name. For sound practice, visit Chinese Foundations.