问好
wènhǎo
Greet · trad. 問好
问好 is a common verb meaning "to greet" or "to say hello" to someone. It describes the action of exchanging pleasantries or acknowledging someone's presence, often verbally.
What does 问好 (wènhǎo) mean?
问好 (wènhǎo) means “greet” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “ask good.”
When to use it
Neutral. It's a general term for the act of greeting. While 问好 is the verb, the actual greetings you say are often phrases like 你好 (hello), 早上好 (good morning), or 晚上好 (good evening).
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "wun-HOW." The first character 问 is a falling tone, and the second character 好 is a third tone.
Other ways to say it
- 打招呼dǎ zhāohuto say hello; to greet (often more active, can include waving)
- 问候wènhòuto greet; to send regards (can be more formal or imply concern)
Examples
他见到我都会问好。
tā jiàndào wǒ dōu huì wènhǎo.
He always greets me when he sees me.
请代我向你父母问好。
qǐng dài wǒ xiàng nǐ fùmǔ wènhǎo.
Please say hello to your parents for me.
我们应该主动向新同事问好。
wǒmen yīnggāi zhǔdòng xiàng xīn tóngshì wènhǎo.
We should take the initiative to greet new colleagues.
Pro tip: While 问好 is the action of greeting, you wouldn't typically say "问好!" as a greeting itself. Instead, you'd use specific greetings like "你好!" or "早上好!". 问好 is more about *doing* the greeting.
Related phrases
基本问候语 · Basic greetings中国，你好！ · China hello美好的早晨 · Blessed morning
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