Useful phrases
- 你好，我叫…… — nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào... — Hello, my name is...
- 你叫什么名字？ — nǐ jiào shénme míngzi? — What's your name?
- 我来自俄罗斯。 — wǒ láizì Éluósī — I'm from Russia
- 我是俄罗斯人。 — wǒ shì Éluósī rén — I'm Russian
- 我住在…… — wǒ zhù zài... — I live in...
- 我在学习中文。 — wǒ zài xuéxí Zhōngwén — I'm learning Chinese
- 我的中文不太好。 — wǒ de Zhōngwén bú tài hǎo — My Chinese is not very good
- 请说慢一点。 — qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn — Please speak more slowly
- 你做什么工作？ — nǐ zuò shénme gōngzuò? — What do you do?
- 我在……工作。 — wǒ zài... gōngzuò — I work in...
- 我是…… — wǒ shì... — I am...
- 我做产品经理。 — wǒ zuò chǎnpǐn jīnglǐ — I work as a product manager
- 我喜欢旅游。 — wǒ xǐhuan lǚyóu — I like to travel
- 我喜欢运动。 — wǒ xǐhuan yùndòng — I like sports
- 我来过中国。 — wǒ lái guo Zhōngguó — I've already been to China
- 我还没去过中国。 — wǒ hái méi qù guo Zhōngguó — I haven't been to China yet
- 很高兴认识你。 — hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ — Nice to meet you
- 你是哪国人？ — nǐ shì nǎ guó rén? — Where are you from?
- 你会说中文吗？ — nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén ma? — Do you speak Chinese?
- 你来过中国吗？ — nǐ lái guo Zhōngguó ma? — Have you already been to China?
Mini dialogue
- 你好，我叫……。你叫什么名字？ — nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào... nǐ jiào shénme míngzi? — Hello, my name is... What is your name?
- 我叫李明。很高兴认识你。 — wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng. hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ. — My name is Li Ming. Nice to meet you.
- 我也很高兴认识你。我来自俄罗斯。 — wǒ yě hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ. wǒ láizì Éluósī. — I'm glad to meet you too. I'm from Russia.
- 你会说中文吗？你来过中国吗？ — nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén ma? nǐ lái guo Zhōngguó ma? — Do you speak Chinese? Have you already been to China?
- 我在学习中文。我的中文不太好，请说慢一点。 — wǒ zài xuéxí Zhōngwén. wǒ de Zhōngwén bú tài hǎo, qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn. — I'm learning Chinese. My Chinese is not very good, please speak more slowly.
- 没问题。你做什么工作？ — méi wèntí. nǐ zuò shénme gōngzuò? — No problem. What do you do?
- 我是……。我喜欢旅游和运动。 — wǒ shì... wǒ xǐhuan lǚyóu hé yùndòng. — I... I like traveling and sports.
- 可以加你微信吗？ — kěyǐ jiā nǐ Wēixìn ma? — Can I add you on WeChat?
Key words
- 你好 — nǐ hǎo — hello/hello
- 名字 — míngzi — Name
- 我 — wǒ — I
- 你 — nǐ — you
- 国家 — guójiā — country
- 国籍 — guójí — nationality
- 中国 — Zhōngguó — China
- 城市 — chéngshì — city
- 住 — zhù — live
- 工作 — gōngzuò — work / to work
- 公司 — gōngsī — company
- 学习 — xuéxí — study
- 中文 — Zhōngwén — Chinese
- 认识 — rènshi — meet / get acquainted
- 喜欢 — xǐhuan — like
- 旅游 — lǚyóu — travel
- 运动 — yùndòng — sport
Cultural hint
The phrase 我的中文不太好 (wǒ de Zhōngwén bù tài hǎo - “my Chinese is not very good”) sounds natural and lowers the other person’s expectations. Exchanging WeChat after meeting someone is common and not intrusive.
At a first meeting, it is better not to ask about age, salary, or marital status. These questions can feel too personal, especially in a casual or business context.
