How to Say "How are you?" in Chinese (Mandarin)

Category: Greetings & Basics

How to Pronounce "How are you?" in Mandarin

The Chinese word for 'How are you?' is 你好吗？, pronounced Nǐ hǎo ma? in pinyin notation. To say it in English approximation: 'nee how ma'.

Breaking Down the Characters

Character	Pinyin	Notes
你	Nǐ	Character component
好	hǎo	Character component
吗	ma?	Character component
？		Character component

Example Usage in Context

English	Chinese	Pinyin
I want to say 'How are you?'	你好吗？	Nǐ hǎo ma?
How do you say How are you??	"How are you?"怎么说？	"How are you?" zěnme shuō?
Please say How are you? slowly	请慢慢说你好吗？	Qǐng màn màn shuō Nǐ hǎo ma?

Understanding Mandarin Tones

Mandarin Chinese uses four tones plus a neutral tone. Getting the tone right is essential - the same syllable with a different tone can mean a completely different word. The pinyin Nǐ hǎo ma? includes tone markers to guide correct pronunciation.

Tips for Learning Chinese Pronunciation

• Listen to native speakers on apps like HelloChinese or Duolingo
• Practice the four tones separately before combining them in words
• Record yourself and compare to native pronunciation
• The pinyin system is the standard romanisation - learn it once and use it everywhere

Take Your Mandarin Further