E08 Chinese Q&A: How Do Chinese People Greet Each Other?

In this Q&A episode of 畅说中文 (Chàng Shuō Zhōngwén), host Daisy welcomes back beloved teacher Cici from Chinese Surfing Chinese School to answer real questions from Chinese learners.

We talk about:

What Chinese people actually say instead of “你好吗”

Affordable and meaningful Chinese-style gift ideas

Why listening to real-life Chinese feels hard, even after passing HSK 3

This episode is ideal for beginner to intermediate Mandarin learners who want to sound more natural, understand daily conversations, and feel less frustrated when listening to native speakers.

🎧 Episode Overview & Timestamps

00:01:00 – How Do Chinese People Really Greet Each Other?

Many learners start with “你好吗”, but in daily life, Chinese greetings are much more context-based.

Common real-life greetings include:

With colleagues
“早啊！” (Zǎo a!)
“你吃了吗？” (Nǐ chī le ma?)

With friends
“来啦！” (Lái la!)
“到啦！” (Dào la!)

With neighbors or acquaintances
“出去啊？” (Chūqù a?)
“回来啦？” (Huílái la?)

💡 Tip: Chinese greetings often comment on what you see, rather than asking “How are you?”

00:05:00 – What Are Meaningful but Affordable Chinese-Style Gifts?

Looking for Chinese gift ideas that are thoughtful and budget-friendly?

Cici recommends:

Chinese-style cosmetics (lipsticks with traditional paintings or poetry designs)

Museum cultural products (bags, fans, fridge magnets, or archaeology-themed mystery boxes)

For teachers: gifts related to their hobbies (for example, cat-themed items!) + a handwritten card

🎁 Shopping tip:
Many Chinese museums now have online shops offering unique cultural souvenirs.

00:09:00 – Why Is Chinese Listening Still Hard After Passing HSK 3?

If you’ve passed HSK 3 but still struggle to understand daily conversations, you’re not alone.

Common reasons include:

HSK exams focus on standard language, while daily speech is flexible and colloquial

Dialects and accents vary widely—even Chinese teachers struggle sometimes

Speed, tone changes, and local expressions add difficulty

👂 Encouragement:
Don’t stress. Keep listening, ask people to speak Mandarin more slowly, and allow yourself time to adapt.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (For Chinese Learners)

Is “你好吗” commonly used in China?
Not really. Native speakers prefer short, situation-based greetings.

What gifts are appropriate in Chinese culture?
Practical, thoughtful items with cultural meaning are usually appreciated more than expensive gifts.

Why does real-life Chinese sound so different from textbook Chinese?
Because daily speech includes slang, reductions, accents, and local habits that textbooks can’t fully cover.

💬 Join the Conversation

How do you usually greet your Chinese friends or colleagues?

What’s the best Chinese-style gift you’ve given or received?

Do you also find listening to real-life Chinese challenging?

Leave a comment on your podcast platform or share your experience in your Chinese learning community.
We may answer your question in the next Q&A episode!

📩 Learn Chinese with Chinese Surfing

For Chinese classes or program consultation by texting'CS podcast':
📧 Email: info@chinese-surfing.com
💬 WeChat: Chinesesurfing2

🎁 Free learning materials:
👉 www.chinese-surfing.com

📜 Want the full PDF script of this episode?
Email: daisy@chinese-surfing.com