10 essential Mandarin Chinese phrases for small talk with neighbours
Break the ice and build rapport with your neighbours using these friendly Mandarin Chinese phrases.
Living in close proximity means opportunities to interact with your neighbours are frequent. Simple greetings and polite inquiries can go a long way in fostering good relationships. Whether you're just passing by or encountering them in a common area, having a few basic phrases ready will make these interactions smoother and more pleasant. These phrases are designed for casual, everyday encounters.
What this lesson covers
Core Chinese words for everyday conversation.
English meanings, pronunciation hints, and tap-to-hear audio.
A quick flashcard flow and quiz to make the words stick.
Start with these key words
Learn the first set, listen out loud, then move into the full list below.
Flashcards
Practice quiz
Full vocabulary list
Words 1–10
- 你好nee howHello
- 早上好jow shung howGood morning
- 晚上好wun shung howGood evening
- 你吃了吗？nee chuh lah maHave you eaten?
- 今天天气真好jeen tyen tyan chee jun howThe weather is really nice today
- 您是住这儿吗？neen shuh joo jerr maDo you live here?
- 有什么事吗？yoh shen muh shirr maIs there anything I can help with?
- 我出去一下wuh choo choo yee shyaI'm going out for a bit
- 再见jye jyenGoodbye
- 慢走man jwohTake care (when someone is leaving)
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