Hanyu Jiaocheng • BLCU • Greetings Lesson
Hanyu Jiaocheng Greetings Lesson — 你好, 谢谢 & Introduction Vocabulary
The opening lesson of 汉语教程 (Hanyu Jiaocheng) by Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) covers Chinese greetings, self-introductions and basic social phrases. These 17 vocabulary items and grammar patterns form the foundation of every conversation you will have in Mandarin.
Core Vocabulary — 17 Words
The greetings lesson introduces the building blocks of Chinese social interaction. Note that Chinese has no direct equivalent of "hi" — 你好 covers all informal greeting situations.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 你好 | nǐ hǎo | hello (informal) | Literally: you good — the standard everyday greeting |
| 您好 | nín hǎo | hello (formal/respectful) | 您 is the formal you — use with teachers, elders, strangers |
| 大家好 | dàjiā hǎo | hello everyone | 大家 = everyone; used to address a group |
| 早上好 | zǎoshang hǎo | good morning | 早安 (zǎo'ān) is more formal; 早！is very casual |
| 下午好 | xiàwǔ hǎo | good afternoon | |
| 晚上好 | wǎnshang hǎo | good evening | |
| 谢谢 | xièxie | thank you | Double syllable — both xièxie (two 4th tones, second often unstressed) |
| 不客气 | bú kèqi | you're welcome | 客气 = to be polite/formal; 不用谢 is another common alternative |
| 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | sorry / I apologise | For genuine apologies; 不好意思 is lighter (excuse me) |
| 没关系 | méi guānxi | it doesn't matter / no problem | Response to 对不起; 没事 (méi shì) is more casual |
| 请 | qǐng | please / to invite / please go ahead | Very versatile: 请进 = please come in; 请坐 = please sit |
| 再见 | zàijiàn | goodbye / see you again | 再 = again; 见 = to see |
| 明天见 | míngtiān jiàn | see you tomorrow | Pattern: [time] + 见 |
| 我叫 | wǒ jiào | my name is / I am called | 叫 = to be called; 我的名字是 is also correct but less natural |
| 我是 | wǒ shì | I am [nationality / role / name] | 我是中国人 = I am Chinese; 我是学生 = I am a student |
| 你叫什么名字 | nǐ jiào shénme míngzi? | what is your name? | Shorter: 你叫什么？is also common and natural |
| 很高兴认识你 | hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ | nice to meet you | 认识 = to get to know; use 认识您 with superiors |
Practice Dialogue — First Meeting
Two students meet for the first time at a Chinese university orientation.
你好！我叫李明，你叫什么名字？
Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng, nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
Hello! My name is Li Ming. What's your name?
你好！我叫王芳。你是哪国人？
Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ jiào Wáng Fāng. Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?
Hello! I'm Wang Fang. What nationality are you?
我是马来西亚人。你呢？
Wǒ shì Mǎláixīyǎ rén. Nǐ ne?
I'm Malaysian. And you?
我是中国人，北京人。很高兴认识你！
Wǒ shì Zhōngguó rén, Běijīng rén. Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ!
I'm Chinese — from Beijing. Nice to meet you!
我也很高兴认识你！
Wǒ yě hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ!
I'm also very happy to meet you!
Grammar Patterns
Yes/no question tag
你是学生吗？— Are you a student?
Add 吗 to any statement to make it a yes/no question. No inversion needed.
And you? / And [topic]?
我是马来西亚人，你呢？— I'm Malaysian, and you?
Shortcut to ask the same question back. Very common in conversation.
also / too
我也很高兴认识你！— I'm also happy to meet you!
Position: 也 comes before the verb, after the subject. 我也是 = me too.
to be [nationality]
我是新加坡人。— I am Singaporean.
Country + 人 = nationality. 中国 → 中国人, 马来西亚 → 马来西亚人.
Nationality Vocabulary
Hanyu Jiaocheng Book 1 includes these nationalities in the greetings chapter exercises.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 中国人 | Zhōngguó rén | Chinese (person) | |
| 美国人 | Měiguó rén | American | |
| 英国人 | Yīngguó rén | British | |
| 马来西亚人 | Mǎláixīyǎ rén | Malaysian | |
| 新加坡人 | Xīnjiāpō rén | Singaporean | |
| 日本人 | Rìběn rén | Japanese | |
| 韩国人 | Hánguó rén | Korean | |
| 法国人 | Fǎguó rén | French |