喂
wèi
Hello on the phone
喂 (wèi) is the standard and most common way to say "hello" when answering or making a phone call in Mandarin Chinese. It's used exclusively for phone conversations, not for in-person greetings.
When to use it
Neutral. It can be used by itself to answer the phone, or repeated (喂喂？) if you can't hear the other person clearly. Adding 你好 (nǐ hǎo) after 喂 can make it sound a bit more polite or formal, especially when initiating a call.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “WAY.” It's often said with a rising tone (second tone) when answering or if you're unsure who is calling, or sometimes a falling tone (fourth tone) if you're confirming someone's presence.
Other ways to say it
- 喂？wèi ？hello? (when unsure or can't hear)
- 喂，你好！wèi ， nǐ hǎo ！hello (on the phone, slightly more polite)
- 喂，请问您找哪位？wèi ， qǐng wèn nín zhǎo nǎ wèi ？hello, may I ask who you're looking for? (formal)
Examples
喂，请问是张老师吗？
wèi ， qǐng wèn shì zhāng lǎo shī ma ？
Hello, may I ask if this is Teacher Zhang?
喂？你听得到我说话吗？
wèi ？ nǐ tīng dé dào wǒ shuō huà ma ？
Hello? Can you hear me?
喂，你好，我是李明。
wèi ， nǐ hǎo ， wǒ shì lǐ míng 。
Hello, I'm Li Ming.
Pro tip: Remember, 喂 is only for phone calls! Never use it to greet someone in person. The tone can vary: a rising tone (wéi) is common when answering or questioning, while a falling tone (wèi) can be used to get attention or confirm presence.
Related phrases
和平 · Peace钱 · Money闭嘴 · Shut up
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