你好吗
nǐ hǎo ma
How are you · trad. 你好嗎
你好吗 is a direct translation of "how are you" in Mandarin Chinese. While grammatically correct, it's not used as frequently or casually as in English. It often implies genuine concern or that you haven't seen the person in a while.
What does 你好吗 (nǐ hǎo ma) mean?
你好吗 (nǐ hǎo ma) means “how are you” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “you good question_particle.”
When to use it
Neutral. It can sometimes sound a bit formal or imply a deeper inquiry than a simple greeting. More common and natural alternatives include 你怎么样 ("how's it going?") or 最近怎么样 ("how have things been recently?"). A common reply is 我很好，谢谢 ("I'm good, thanks") or 还不错 ("not bad").
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "nee-HOW-ma." Remember the tone change for 你好: the first 你 shifts to a rising tone. The 吗 is a neutral tone.
Other ways to say it
- 你怎么样?nǐ zěnmeyàng?How's it going? / How are you doing? (more natural)
- 最近怎么样?zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?How have things been recently?
- 您最近怎么样？nín zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?How are you? (polite/formal)
Examples
你好吗？我好久没见到你了。
nǐ hǎo ma? wǒ hǎojiǔ méi jiàndào nǐ le.
How are you? I haven't seen you in a long time.
你最近怎么样？工作顺利吗？
nǐ zuìjìn zěnmeyàng? gōngzuò shùnlì ma?
How have you been recently? Is work going well?
谢谢关心，我很好。你呢？
xièxie guānxīn, wǒ hěn hǎo. nǐ ne?
Thanks for asking, I'm good. How about you?
Pro tip: Unlike in English, 你好吗 isn't a casual, everyday greeting. Chinese speakers often use other questions about life, work, or recent events, or simply 你好, to initiate conversation. It can sound a bit direct if used as a mere formality.
Related phrases
你好 · Hello早上好 · Good morning下午好 · Good afternoon
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