🇨🇳 Chinese phrases

How to Say "How are you?" in Chinese

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
你好吗?
"How are you?" in Chinese · say it like nee hao ma

The most natural way to say "How are you?" in Chinese is 你好吗?. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

你怎么样?
more casual and commonly used among friends
你还好吗?
used when checking on someone's well-being after a while

When to use it

Use this phrase when greeting someone you know. It is appropriate in both casual and formal settings. You can use it when meeting someone after a while or just to check in on a friend.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "How are you?" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Chinese

ChineseEnglish
你好!你好吗?Hello! How are you?
Common mistake
Some learners may forget to use the correct tone, which can change the meaning.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear 你好吗?, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Chinese with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

Is it okay to use this phrase with strangers?

Yes, but it may be better to use a more formal greeting in very formal situations.

Learn Chinese by speaking it

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