🇨🇳 Chinese phrases

How to Say "Where are you from?" in Chinese

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
你来自哪里?
"Where are you from?" in Chinese · say it like nee lah-tsuh nah-lee

The most natural way to say "Where are you from?" in Chinese is 你来自哪里?. 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

你是哪儿的人?
This is a more casual way to ask.
您来自哪里?
This is a more formal version.

When to use it

You can use this phrase when meeting someone new and you want to know their background. It is polite and shows interest in the other person. Use it in both casual and formal settings, depending on the context.

Say it out loud, get corrected

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

Examples in Chinese

ChineseEnglish
你好,你来自哪里?Hello, where are you from?
Common mistake
Learners often 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 你来自哪里?, 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 polite to ask someone where they are from?

Yes, it is generally considered polite and shows interest in the person.

Learn Chinese by speaking it

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