Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar

GreetiNGS aNd GoodByeS

24.1

24.1.2 Greetings with reference to time of day

The most common morning greeting is:

早。

Zǎo.

Good morning.

The response is:

早

Zǎo.

Good morning.

An alternative form of this greeting is:

早安。

Zǎo’ān.

Good morning.

or

早上好。

Zǎoshang hǎo.

Good morning.

There is no greeting associated with any other time of day.

24.1.3 Greeting people by calling them (叫 jiào)

In China, it is very common to greet others by making eye contact and calling them by name,

title, or appropriate kinship term. To greet others in this way is to 叫 jiào ‘call’ them. This

greeting can include 好 hǎo or 你好 nǐ hǎo.

罗老师！/羅老師！ 张萌！/張萌！

Luó lǎoshī! Zhāng Méng!

Professor Ross! Zhang Meng!

王经理！/王經理！ 阿姨好！

Wáng jīnglǐ! Āyí hǎo!

Manager Wang! How are you, Auntie!

小王！ 老张你好！/老張你好！

Xiǎo Wáng! Lǎo Zhāng nǐ hǎo!

Little Wang! How are you, Old Zhang!

C22.4

24.1.4 Greeting others by referring to their present activity

Relatives, friends, or close acquaintances may greet each other by referring to their present

activity. Here are some examples.

吃饭去。 上课吧！

吃飯去。 上課吧！

Chī fàn qù. Shàng kè ba!

(I see that you are) Going off to eat. Going to class, I assume.

回家呢？ 上班呢。

Huí jiā ne? Shàng bān ne.

Are you going home? Going to work, right?