1.1 Breaking the Ice 社交破冰
Part 1: Common Dialogues 常见对话
Dialogue 1: First Meeting 对话一：初次见面
Scene 场景：Meeting new friends at a party 在朋友聚会上认识新朋友
| A | 你好！ Hello! (Lit: you good) |
| B | 你好！ Hello! (Lit: you good) |
| A | 我叫李明，你呢？ I'm Li Ming, and you? (Lit: I called Li Ming, you?) |
| B | 我叫小红。认识你很高兴！ I'm Xiao Hong. Nice to meet you! (Lit: I called Xiao Hong. Know you very happy) |
| A | 我也很高兴认识你！ Nice to meet you too! (Lit: I also very happy know you) |
Dialogue 2: Formal Greeting 对话二：正式问候
Scene 场景：Self-introduction before a business meeting 商务会议前的自我介绍
| A | 您好！请问您贵姓？ Hello! May I ask your surname? (Lit: you[honorific] good! Please-ask you honorable-surname?) |
| B | 免贵姓王。您怎么称呼？ My surname is Wang. How should I address you? (Lit: Exempt-honorable surnamed Wang. You how address?) |
| A | 我姓张，叫张伟。 My surname is Zhang, I'm Zhang Wei. (Lit: I surnamed Zhang, called Zhang Wei) |
| B | 张先生，久仰久仰！ Mr. Zhang, I've long heard of you! (Lit: Zhang sir, long-admire long-admire) |
Dialogue 3: Small Talk 对话三：简单寒暄
Scene 场景：Running into someone you know 遇到熟人打招呼
| A | 嗨！好久不见！ Hi! Long time no see! (Lit: Hi! Good-long not see) |
| B | 是啊！最近怎么样？ Yeah! How have you been? (Lit: Yes! Recently how?) |
| A | 还不错，你呢？ Pretty good, and you? (Lit: Still not-bad, you?) |
| B | 我也挺好的。身体好吗？ I'm doing well too. How's your health? (Lit: I also quite good. Body good?) |
| A | 很好，谢谢关心！ Very good, thanks for asking! (Lit: Very good, thank concern) |
Dialogue 4: Saying Goodbye 对话四：告别
Scene 场景：Saying goodbye after a gathering 聚会结束后告别
| A | 时间不早了，我先走了。 It's getting late, I should go. (Lit: Time not early, I first leave) |
| B | 好的，路上小心！ OK, be careful on the way! (Lit: Good, road-on careful) |
| A | 谢谢！再见！ Thanks! Goodbye! (Lit: Thank! Again-see) |
| B | 拜拜！下次再聊！ Bye bye! Let's chat again next time! (Lit: Bye-bye! Next-time again chat) |
Dialogue 5: Casual Chat Among Young People 对话五：年轻人休闲聊天
Scene 场景：Two young people meeting at a party 两个年轻人在派对上认识
| A | 嗨！我叫小李，你呢？ Hi! I'm Xiao Li, and you? (Lit: hi! I called Little Li, you?) |
| B | 嗨！我叫杰克，叫我Jack就行。 Hi! I'm Jieke, just call me Jack. (Lit: hi! I called Jieke, call me Jack just OK) |
| A | 哇，你是外国人啊！哪儿的？ Wow, you're a foreigner! Where from? (Lit: wow, you are foreign person! where?) |
| B | 美国的，来北京玩儿。你呢？ From the US, visiting Beijing. And you? (Lit: America, come Beijing play. you?) |
| A | 我本地人，土生土长的北京人！ I'm local, born and raised in Beijing! (Lit: I local person, earth-born earth-grown Beijing person!) |
| B | 太酷了！那你一定知道哪儿好玩！ So cool! You must know where the fun spots are! (Lit: too cool! then you certainly know where fun!) |
| A | 哈哈，那当然！加个微信吧？ Haha, of course! Wanna add each other on WeChat? (Lit: haha, that of-course! add a WeChat?) |
Part 2: Useful Expressions 常用句子
Greetings 打招呼
- 你好！/ 您好！ Hello! (Lit: you good / you[honorific] good)
- 嗨！/ 嘿！ Hi! / Hey! (casual greetings)
- 大家好！ Hello everyone! (Lit: everyone good)
- 吃了吗？ Have you eaten? (Lit: eat [completed]?) - traditional greeting)
- 去哪儿啊？ Where are you going? (Lit: go where?) - casual greeting)
- 好久不见！ Long time no see! (Lit: good-long not see)
Self-introduction 自我介绍
- 您贵姓？ May I ask your surname? (Lit: you[honorific] honorable-surname?) - formal)
- 你叫什么名字？ What's your name? (Lit: you called what name?)
- 怎么称呼您？ How should I address you? (Lit: how address you[honorific]?)
- 免贵姓... My surname is... (humble response) (Lit: exempt-honorable surnamed...)
- 认识你很高兴！ Nice to meet you! (Lit: know you very happy)
- 幸会幸会！ Pleased to meet you! (Lit: fortunate-meet fortunate-meet) - formal)
- 久仰久仰！ I've long heard of you! (Lit: long-admire long-admire) - very formal)
Small Talk 寒暄问候
- 最近怎么样？ How have you been recently? (Lit: recently how?)
- 身体好吗？ How's your health? (Lit: body good?)
- 工作忙吗？/ 最近忙吗？ Are you busy with work? / Been busy lately? (Lit: work busy? / recently busy?)
- 还不错 / 挺好的 / 还好 Pretty good / Not bad (Lit: still not-bad / quite good / still good)
- 老样子。/ 马马虎虎。 Same as usual. / So-so. (Lit: old appearance / horse-horse-tiger-tiger)
- 谢谢关心！ Thanks for asking! (Lit: thank concern)
Farewells 告别用语
- 再见！ Goodbye! (Lit: again see)
- 拜拜！ Bye bye! (casual)
- 回头见！/ 回见！ See you later! (Lit: turn-head see)
- 路上小心！ Be careful on the way! (Lit: road-on careful)
- 慢走！ Take care! (when seeing someone off) (Lit: slow walk)
- 时间不早了，我先走了。 It's getting late, I should go. (Lit: time not early, I first leave)
- 有空再聊！/ 下次再聊！ Let's chat again when free! / Let's chat next time! (Lit: have free-time again chat / next-time again chat)
- 保重！ Take care! (Lit: keep-weight) - when parting for a long time)
Part 3: Key Sentence Patterns 核心句型
★ 我叫 + [名字]
Usage: Introducing your full name or given name (介绍自己的名字)
Example: 我叫小明。 (Wǒ jiào Xiǎo Míng.)
My name is Xiao Ming.
(Lit: I called Xiao Ming)
Example: 我叫小明。 (Wǒ jiào Xiǎo Míng.)
My name is Xiao Ming.
(Lit: I called Xiao Ming)
★ 我姓 + [姓]
Usage: Introducing your surname only (介绍自己的姓氏)
Example: 我姓王。 (Wǒ xìng Wáng.)
My surname is Wang.
(Lit: I surnamed Wang)
Example: 我姓王。 (Wǒ xìng Wáng.)
My surname is Wang.
(Lit: I surnamed Wang)
★ [时间] + 好！
Usage: Greeting based on time of day (根据时间打招呼)
Example: 早上好！/ 晚上好！ (Zǎoshang hǎo! / Wǎnshang hǎo!)
Good morning! / Good evening!
(Lit: morning good! / evening good!)
Example: 早上好！/ 晚上好！ (Zǎoshang hǎo! / Wǎnshang hǎo!)
Good morning! / Good evening!
(Lit: morning good! / evening good!)
★ [时间] + 怎么样？
Usage: Asking about someone's situation (询问某段时间的情况)
Example: 最近怎么样？/ 今天怎么样？ (Zuìjìn zěnmeyàng? / Jīntiān zěnmeyàng?)
How have you been? / How's today?
(Lit: recently how? / today how?)
Example: 最近怎么样？/ 今天怎么样？ (Zuìjìn zěnmeyàng? / Jīntiān zěnmeyàng?)
How have you been? / How's today?
(Lit: recently how? / today how?)
★ [时间] + 见！
Usage: Arranging to meet at a certain time (约定见面时间)
Example: 明天见！/ 下周见！ (Míngtiān jiàn! / Xià zhōu jiàn!)
See you tomorrow! / See you next week!
(Lit: tomorrow see! / next-week see!)
Example: 明天见！/ 下周见！ (Míngtiān jiàn! / Xià zhōu jiàn!)
See you tomorrow! / See you next week!
(Lit: tomorrow see! / next-week see!)
★ [陈述] + ，你呢？
Usage: Returning the same question to the other person (反问对方相同的问题)
Example: 我很好，你呢？/ 我是学生，你呢？ (Wǒ hěn hǎo, nǐ ne? / Wǒ shì xuésheng, nǐ ne?)
I'm fine, and you? / I'm a student, and you?
(Lit: I very good, you? / I am student, you?)
Example: 我很好，你呢？/ 我是学生，你呢？ (Wǒ hěn hǎo, nǐ ne? / Wǒ shì xuésheng, nǐ ne?)
I'm fine, and you? / I'm a student, and you?
(Lit: I very good, you? / I am student, you?)
Part 4: Cultural Tips 文化小贴士
-
"Nín" vs "Nǐ" (您 vs 你)
"Nín" is the respectful form of "nǐ" (Lit: you[honorific] vs you), used for elders, superiors, or people you meet for the first time. Use "nǐ" with peers or close friends.
"您"是"你"的敬语形式，用于对长辈、上级或初次见面的人表示尊重。年龄相近或熟悉的朋友之间用"你"即可。 -
Answering "guì xìng" (回答"贵姓")
When answering "Nín guì xìng?" (Lit: you honorable-surname?), people often say "Miǎn guì xìng..." (Lit: exempt-honorable surnamed..., meaning "I don't deserve the honorific"). In modern speech, simply saying "Wǒ xìng..." is also acceptable.
回答"您贵姓？"时，常说"免贵姓..."，字面意思是"不敢当'贵'字"，这是一种谦虚的表达。现代口语中直接说"我姓..."也可以。 -
Choosing greetings (问候语的选择)
Chinese people often greet with "Chī le ma?" (Lit: eat [completed]?). This is just a greeting—you don't need to actually answer whether you've eaten.
中国人见面常问"吃了吗？"，字面意思是"吃了吗？"，但这只是一种问候，不需要真的回答是否吃饭。 -
Body language (肢体语言)
Chinese people usually nod and smile when greeting. Handshakes are common in formal settings. Hugs and cheek kisses are less traditional but becoming more common among young people.
中国人打招呼时通常会点头微笑，正式场合可以握手。拥抱和贴面礼在传统中国文化中不太常见，但在年轻人和国际化环境中越来越普遍。 -
Meaning of "màn zǒu" ("慢走"的含义)
When seeing someone off, saying "Màn zǒu" (Lit: slow walk) actually expresses care and wishes for a safe journey—it doesn't mean you should actually walk slowly.
送别时说"慢走"，字面意思是"走慢一点"，实际上是表达关心和祝福对方路上平安，并非真的让人走慢。
Part 5: Casual Alternatives 口语替代表达
In everyday speech, Chinese people often use more casual and friendly expressions: 在日常口语中，中国人经常使用更随意、更亲切的表达方式：
| Standard 标准 | Casual 口语 | Context 使用场景 |
|---|---|---|
| 你好 Hello (Lit: you good) | 嗨！/ 哎！/ 喂！ Hi! / Hey! / Yo! |
Between friends, very casual 朋友之间，非常随意 |
| 最近怎么样？ How have you been? (Lit: recently how?) | 最近咋样？/ 咋样啊？ How's it going? (Lit: recently how? / how?) |
Among acquaintances, Northern dialect 熟人之间，北方口语 |
| 我很好 I'm very good (Lit: I very good) | 还行吧 / 凑合 / 马马虎虎 OK / So-so / Just alright (Lit: still OK / make-do / horse-horse-tiger-tiger) |
Humble way to say "I'm OK" 谦虚表达"还可以" |
| 再见 Goodbye (Lit: again see) | 拜拜 / 回见 / 走啦 Bye / See ya / I'm off (Lit: bye-bye / return-see / leave) |
Daily farewell, common among young people 日常告别，年轻人常用 |
| 认识你很高兴 Nice to meet you (Lit: know you very happy) | 幸会幸会 / 久仰久仰 Honored to meet you (Lit: fortunate-meet / long-admire) |
More formal, elegant 较正式，文雅 |
| 你叫什么名字？ What's your name? (Lit: you called what name?) | 怎么称呼？/ 咋称呼？ How should I address you? (Lit: how address? / how address?) |
Polite, suitable for first meetings 比较礼貌，适合初次见面 |
Tip 小提示："Zǎ" is a colloquial shortening of "zěnme" (how), very common in Northern Chinese. "Mǎmǎhūhū" (Lit: horse-horse-tiger-tiger) is an idiom meaning "so-so" or "just OK".
"咋" (zǎ) 是"怎么"的口语简化形式，在北方口语中非常常见。"马马虎虎"字面意思是"马马虎虎"，用来表示"一般般"。
"咋" (zǎ) 是"怎么"的口语简化形式，在北方口语中非常常见。"马马虎虎"字面意思是"马马虎虎"，用来表示"一般般"。
Part 6: Practice 练习
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks 填空题
Complete the dialogues with the correct words. 用正确的词语完成对话。
A: 你好！我小王。
B: 你很高兴！
(Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ ____ Xiǎo Wáng. ____ nǐ hěn gāoxìng!)
A: 您好！请问您？
B: 免贵张。
(Nín hǎo! Qǐngwèn nín ____？Miǎn guì ____ Zhāng.)
A: 好久不见！最近？
B: 还不错，你？
(Hǎojiǔ bú jiàn! Zuìjìn ____？Hái búcuò, nǐ ____？)
A: 时间不早了，我先走了。
B: 好的，路上！
(Shíjiān bù zǎo le, wǒ xiān zǒu le. Hǎo de, lùshang ____！)
Exercise 2: Matching 配对题
Match the situations with the appropriate expressions. 将情景与合适的表达配对。
1. Meeting someone for the first time
2. Seeing a friend you haven't seen in a while
3. Your guest is leaving
4. Asking someone's name politely (formal)
Exercise 3: Role Play 角色扮演
🎭 Scenario A: You meet a new classmate at a Chinese class. Introduce yourself and ask their name.
🎭 Scenario B: You run into your Chinese friend on the street. Greet them and ask how they've been recently.
🎭 Scenario C: You're at a business event and need to introduce yourself to Mr. Wang. Use formal expressions.
Reference Answers (Exercise 3)
Scenario A:
你好！我叫___。你叫什么名字？认识你很高兴！
Hello! My name is___. What's your name? Nice to meet you!
Scenario B:
嗨！好久不见！最近怎么样？身体好吗？
Hi! Long time no see! How have you been? How's your health?
Scenario C:
您好，王先生！我姓___，叫___。认识您很高兴！久仰久仰！
Hello, Mr. Wang! My surname is___, my name is___. Nice to meet you! I've long heard of you!
