YOUR ROUTE
From hello to goodbye
REAL SCENE · LISTEN & SPEAK
Practise a complete interaction
A relaxed conversation between friends in a Chinese tea shop. Both people meet as equals—this is not a service encounter.
Set up speaking practice
Allow microphone access once. Your voice is used by the browser to recognize the sentence.
1·2·3
Listen → Practice → Check: hear the model, speak the sentence, then use the recognized words and match score to improve.
You你好！Nǐ hǎo!
Hello!
Friend你好！你叫什么名字？Nǐ hǎo! Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
Hello! What’s your name?
You我叫Alex，我来自美国。Wǒ jiào Alex, wǒ láizì Měiguó.
My name is Alex. I’m from United States.
Friend很高兴认识你。Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.
Nice to meet you.
You可以加个微信吗？Kěyǐ jiā ge Wēixìn ma?
Can I add you on WeChat?
From saying hello to staying in touch
You do not need a long conversation to be friendly. A greeting, a short introduction, one polite request, and a warm goodbye are enough for most everyday social moments.
Choose the right greeting
Use 你好 when meeting someone for the first time or in a neutral situation. With a friend, 嗨 or 好久不见 sounds warmer. A smile and a simple greeting are more useful than a long memorized introduction.
Introduce yourself briefly
Say your name and where you are from, then ask the other person's name. Do not worry if your name is difficult to pronounce; show it on your phone and let the person repeat it.
Invite connection without pressure
Ask whether you can add each other on WeChat or suggest coffee, food, or another casual activity. Make the invitation easy to decline and accept a no without asking for a reason.
Ask for help politely
Start with 请问 or 不好意思, then make one clear request. After receiving help, say 谢谢 or 麻烦你了. Showing the relevant address, ticket, or screen makes the request easier.
Apologize and say goodbye
Use 不好意思 for small interruptions or minor inconvenience, and 对不起 for a clearer mistake. End with 再见, 下次见, or 微信联系 depending on the relationship.
What catches visitors out
It is safe and polite, but close friends often use 嗨, 吃饭了吗, 最近怎么样, or simply the person's name.
For squeezing past someone, getting attention, or a tiny mistake, 不好意思 often sounds more natural.
Ask before scanning a WeChat code, taking a photo, or sharing someone's contact. If they hesitate, move on politely.