Level 1
Sounds & Greetings
Say hello, thank someone, and apologize - and be understood, tones included.
Phrases
Tap play to hear it, then say it out loud.
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你好
hello
Say it like nee how
The everyday all-purpose greeting, any time of day. Tone note: two 3rd tones in a row run together, so 你好 sounds like ní hǎo - the first 3rd tone becomes a 2nd tone.
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大家好
hello everyone
Say it like dah-jyah how
Use this when greeting a group, or opening to a room. 大家 means everybody.
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謝謝
thank you
Say it like syeh-syeh
The default thanks. Repeating the syllable keeps it light and friendly. Say it to shop staff, drivers, anyone.
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非常感謝
thank you very much
Say it like fay-chahng gan-syeh
Warmer and more formal than 謝謝. Good when someone has really gone out of their way.
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不客氣
you are welcome
Say it like boo kuh-chee
Literally "do not be polite". The standard reply to 謝謝.
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對不起
sorry, excuse me
Say it like dway-boo-chee
For apologies and for getting past someone. More apologetic than 不好意思.
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沒關係
it is okay, never mind
Say it like may gwan-shee
Literally "no relation". The standard answer to 對不起.
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不好意思
sorry to trouble you
Say it like boo how yee-suh
Softer than 對不起. Perfect when asking a stranger a question or being a bother.
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請
please
Say it like cheeng
Put it in front of a verb: 請說 "please speak", 請坐 "please sit".
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早安
good morning
Say it like dzow ahn
The usual morning greeting in Taiwan. 安 is a level-1 tone and stays calm and flat.
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晚安
good night
Say it like wahn ahn
Use when parting for the night or when someone is going to bed.
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你好嗎
how are you?
Say it like nee how ma
Adding 嗎 at the end turns a statement into a yes-or-no question. Tone note: 嗎 is neutral and light - do not stress it.
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我很好
I am fine, very well
Say it like wuh hun how
很 here is less "very" and more a softener between the subject and the adjective.
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你呢
and you?
Say it like nee nuh
呢 bounces the same question back. Tone note: it is neutral and short.
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再見
goodbye
Say it like dzeye-jyehn
Literally "see again". The standard goodbye in any register.
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掰掰
bye bye
Say it like bye bye
Casual, borrowed from English, and very common in Taiwan, especially with children.
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明天見
see you tomorrow
Say it like meeng-tyehn jyehn
Swap 明天 for other times: 今天見, 等一下見.
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好久不見
long time no see
Say it like how-jyoh boo jyehn
Friendly and common. 好久 means "a long time".
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很高興認識你
nice to meet you
Say it like hun gow-shing run-shir nee
For a first meeting. 認識 means to get to know someone.
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保重
take care
Say it like bow-jong
Literally "protect your health". Warm, used when parting for a while.
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歡迎
welcome
Say it like hwahn-yeeng
You will hear this at the door of every shop and restaurant.
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沒問題
no problem
Say it like may wun-tee
問題 means problem or question. Very handy.
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是
yes, it is
Say it like shir
Affirms that something is the case. Tone note: a crisp falling 4th tone.
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不是
no, it is not
Say it like boo shir
Note the tone change: 不 is 4th tone bù, but before another 4th tone it becomes 2nd tone bú.
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對
right, correct
Say it like dway
One syllable, used constantly to agree. Tone note: falling 4th tone, short and firm.
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不對
not right, incorrect
Say it like boo dway
The 不 shifts to a 2nd tone before the 4th tone of 對.
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好
okay, good
Say it like how
Doubles as "good" and as agreement. Tone note: the 3rd tone dips and rises; let it fall before rising.
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請問
may I ask, excuse me
Say it like cheeng-wun
The polite way to open any question to a stranger: 請問, followed by your question.