Greetings and Daily Basics

---

Start using the conversations every day

While you are starting to have these mini conversations everyday, try switching up the questions and responses so you don't get bored.

These conversationalised flashcards might help.

Why conversations beat vocab lists

Memorising "hello" a hundred times won't help when someone actually says hi. Short, realistic exchanges give you rhythm, timing, and tone practice - plus they're way more fun.

Conversation 1: Morning check‑in - "How did you sleep?"

A: 你好！(Nǐ hǎo!)

B: 嗨！早上好。(Hāi! Zǎoshang hǎo.) 你睡得好吗？(Nǐ shuì de hǎo ma?) / 你睡得怎么样？(Nǐ shuì de zěnme yàng?)

A: 我睡得......(Wǒ shuì de ...)

Swap-ins for "I slept..."

• 特别好 (tèbié hǎo) very well
• 很好 (hěn hǎo) really good
• 很香 (hěn xiāng) slept soundly
• 很沉 (hěn chén) very deep
• 很死 (hěn sǐ) dead to the world
• 像猪一样 (xiàng zhū yíyàng) literally: like a pig but figuratively, like a log or like a baby
• 挺好的 (tǐng hǎo de) pretty good
• 还不错 (hái bùcuò) not bad
• 还行吧 (hái xíng ba) alright
• 一般般 (yìbān bān) so-so
• 不太好 (bù tài hǎo) not so good

B: 我睡得......(Wǒ shuì de ...) ＋ one of the above.

Cultural note

• 很香 literally "very fragrant," but in sleep-speak it means "slept soundly." Language is delicious.
• 像猪一样 As baffling as it may be, Chinese people often use "pig" in an endearing, cute way.

---

Conversation 2: "How are you?" without sounding like a robot

A: 嗨！好久不见。(Hāi! Hǎojiǔ bùjiàn.) 最近怎么样？(Zuìjìn zěnme yàng?) / 你怎么样？(Nǐ zěnme yàng?)

B: ...你呢？(... nǐ ne?) And you?

Real answers to mix and match

• 特别好 (tèbié hǎo) fantastic
• 我很好 (wǒ hěn hǎo) I'm good
• 挺好的 (tǐng hǎo de) pretty good
• 还不错 (hái bùcuò) not bad
• 还行 / 还好吧 (hái xíng / hái hǎo ba) okay-ish
• 一般般 / 老样子 (yìbān bān / lǎo yàngzi) so-so / same old
• 马马虎虎 (mǎmǎhūhū) meh
• 不太好 / 不怎么好 (bù tài hǎo / bù zěnme hǎo) not great
• 不怎么样 / 就那样 (bù zěnme yàng / jiù nàyàng) nothing special

Pro tip

Remember the magic word that turns a statement into a question from [The Five Tones] (https://www.twiglettales.com/lessons/the-five-tones) lesson?

吗 (ma) turns a statement into a yes-no question. 你睡得好 → 你睡得好吗？

---

Conversation 3: Heading out

A: 我出门了，拜拜！(Wǒ chūmén le, bàibài!) I'm heading out, bye!

B: 再见，路上小心！(Zàijiàn, lùshàng xiǎoxīn!) Bye, take care on the way!

A: 好的，谢谢。(Hǎo de, xièxie.) Sure, thanks.

B: 不客气。(Bù kèqi.) You're welcome.

---

Conversation 4: Lights out like a local

A: 晚安！(Wǎn'ān!) Night!

B: 晚安，好梦！(Wǎn'ān, hǎo mèng!) Night, sweet dreams!

A: 好的，你也是。(Hǎo de, nǐ yě shì.) You too.

---

FAQ for beginners

Do I need tones right now?

Start aiming for them, but don't let perfection stop your mouth from moving. Meaning matters, but momentum builds meaning.

Practice your tones here.