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Greetings and Basic Mandarin Chinese Words and Phrases

Hello: Nǐhǎo (Nee how)

Thank you: Xièxiè (Shieh-shieh)

You're welcome: Bù kèqì (Boo kuh-chi)

Good morning: Zǎo (Zhow) or (zǎo shàng hǎo/zǎo ān!)

Goodnight: Wǎn ān (One-un)

Yes: Shì (Sheh)

No: Bù shì (Bu-sheh)

Good: Hǎo (How)

Bad: Bù hǎo (Boo-how)

Today: Jīntiān (Jeen-tian)

Tomorrow: Míngtiān (Meeng-tian)

Yesterday: Zuótiān (Zwuh-tian)

Goodbye: Zàijiàn (Zhai-jian)

What’s your name? (nǐ jiào shén me míng zì?)

My name is…: Wǒ jiào... (Wuh jeow...)

My friend's name is...: Wǒ de péngyǒu jiào… (Wuh duh pung-yo jeow...)

I don’t understand- (wǒ tīng bù dǒng)

Sorry, I don’t speak Chinese very well. (bù hǎo yì sī, wǒ zhōng wén shuō dé bù tài hǎo)

How may I address you? (nín zěn me chēng hū?)

May I ask your surname? (qǐng wèn nín gùi xìng?)

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Nice to meet you! (xìng huì)

How are you these days? (zuì jìn hǎo bù hǎo?)

Have you eaten? (nǐ chī le ma?)

Important Travel Phrases

Do you have…? (qǐng wèn yǒu méi yǒu …?)

How much? (duō shǎo qián?)

I need/want to go to…(wǒ xiǎng qù…)

Help! (jìu mìng a!)

Where’s the bathroom? (cè suǒ zài nǎ lǐ?)

Please let me go through (jiè guò yí xià)

Do you speak English? (nǐ huì shuō yīng yǔ ma?)

Making Conversation

Are you a local? (nǐ shì běn dì rén ma)

What kind of work do you do? (nǐ zùo shén me yàng de gōng zùo?)

What is your field of study? (nǐ dú shén me zhuān yè?)

What do you like to do? (nǐ yǒu shén me ài hào?)

So, what’s going on? (ēi, shén me shì?)

Responding During Conversation

That’s really cool! (tài kù le!)

That’s hilarious. (hǎo gǎo xiào.)

Really? (zhēn de ma?)

No way! (bú hùi ba!) —

Oh my goodness! (wǒ de mā ya!)

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Oh my gosh! (āi yōu wǒ qù!)

Me too. (wǒ yě shì.)

I understand. (wǒ lǐ jiě.)

That’s freakin’ awesome! (tài niù le)

Useful Chinese Slang and Mandarin Phrases

Where is the bathroom: Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ? (See-sow-jian zai na-lee?)

How much? Duō shǎo? (Dwuh shauw?)

Too expensive: Tài guìle! (Tie gway luh!)

Make it cheaper: Piányí yī diǎn. (Pian-yee yee dian.)

Very beautiful: Hĕn piàoliang (Hen peow-liung)

Delicious: Hào chī (How chir); Very delicious: Hěn hào chī (Hen how chir)

Check, please: Măi dān (My dahn)

I don't understand: Wǒ bù dǒng (Wuh boo dong)

Let's go! Wǒmen zǒu ba! (Wuh-men zoew bah!)

Source: https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/basic-mandarin-chinese-words-phrases