jiè shào / Getting Started

介紹 jiè shào / Getting Started

English:    Hello   
Chinese:   nee hau ( ni hao )
Literally:    you good
Hello is a combination of two words - the word for you and the word for good.
English:    You   
Chinese:   nee ( ni )
English:    Good   
Chinese:   hau ( hao )
So to say hello in Mandarin, you literally say you good:
English:    Hello   
Chinese:   nee hau ( ni hao )
Literally:    you good
To convert that into the question How are you?, or literally You good?, all you have to do is add the following syllable at the end:
English:    (Add this word to make a statement into a question)   
Chinese:    mah / muh ( ma )
English:    How are you?   
Chinese:    nee hau mah ( ni hao ma )
Literally:    you good +?
In China, you'd only ask this in formal situations. Chinese don't use this phrase as casually as Americans do. Here are some simple responses:
English:    Good (a positive answer)   
Chinese:    hau ( hao )
English:    Very   
Chinese:    hun / heun ( hen )
English:    Very good   
Chinese:    hun hau ( hen hao )
Literally:    (same)
English:    I   
Chinese:    woh ( wo )
English:    I'm very good   
Chinese:    woh hun hau ( wo hen hao )
Literally:    I very good
English:    Not   
Chinese:    boo / pu ( bu )
English:    Not good   
Chinese:    boo hau / pu hau ( bu hao )
Literally:    (same)
English:    Again   
Chinese:    dzie ( cai )
English:    To see   
Chinese:    djee-en ( jian )
English:    Goodbye   
Chinese:    dzie djee-en ( cai cien )
Literally:    again see