Everyday Chinese
1. Phonetic knowledge:
     Initials and finals
     Tones
    Tonal Change 		2. Initial-Final Combinations
3. Greetings
4. Placing an Order
5. Attending Class 6. Making Inquiries
7. Shopping 8. About Time
 
   
Greetings in Putonghua
(Click the links to listen. All tone marks here show the actual tones.)
   

What do people usually say in Putonghua when they meet? Here are some commonly used greetings in Putonghua.
   
1. How do you do?
  你好！
  Ní hǎo！
   
2. May I know your name (honorable surname)?
  您贵姓？
  Nín guìxìng？
  My surname is Chen.
  我姓陳。
  Wǒ xìng Chén.
   
3. Good morning.
  (你) 早。
  (Ní)Zǎo.
   
4. Good afternoon.
  午安。
  Wǔ'ān.
   
5. Good-bye.
  再见。
  Zàijiàn.
   
6.

How are you?

  你好吗？
  Ní hǎo mɑ？
  I am fine, thank you. And you?
  我很好，谢谢。你呢？
  Wó hén hǎo，xièxie. Nǐ ne？
   
7. Have you eaten？
  吃了吗？
  Chīle mɑ？
  Yes, I have, thank you. / No, I haven’t. And you?
  吃了，谢谢。／還没，你呢？
  Chīle，xièxie.／Hái méi，nǐ ne？
   
8. Are you busy?
  你忙吗？／你最近忙吗？
  Nǐ máng mɑ？／Nǐ zuìjìn máng mɑ？
  No. / Yes, very busy.
  不忙。／很忙！
  Bù máng.／Hěn máng！
   
9. How have you been recently?
  你最近好吗？
  Nǐ zuìjìn hǎo mɑ？
  Not bad, and you? / So-so, and you?
  不错，你呢？／马马虎虎，你呢？
  Búcuò，nǐ ne？／Mámɑhūhū，nǐ ne？
   
10. You look great!
  你气色不错！
  Nǐ qìsè búcuò！
  You can find more situational conversations from the following library materials:
Elementary spoken Chinese PL1125.E6 C6 1997
Short-term spoken Chinese : Threshold PL1074.8 .H34 2005
Basic Chinese course 25 lessons PL1111.C47
Questions and answers : a course of speed-up oral Chinese PL1074.8 C434 1998
Easy Chinese speak out PL1121.C5 Y52 2004
Intermediate spoken Chinese PL1125.E6 L58 1996
The standard Chinese course PL1128 .P5 1998
Elementary Chinese PL1128 .R85 2006
The Independent Learning Centre, 1/F United College Wu Chung Library,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin
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