How to communicate politely with Chinese people?

Hello! I’m Teacher Pingping. Today, we’re going to learn how to speak politely in Chinese. Many people can speak Chinese, but sometimes their communication may come across as rude without them realizing it. Don’t worry—Teacher Pingping will show you some simple tips to communicate politely and respectfully with Chinese people.

您 / 你 (Nín / Nǐ)

When speaking to someone much older than you, a teacher, boss, or client, or in formal situations, you should use 您 (nín) to show respect. If you’re talking to a close friend or someone younger, you can use 你 (nǐ). For example: - Seeing an older adult: say “您好 (nín hǎo)” - Seeing a child: say “你好 (nǐ hǎo)”

Now a question for you: when you see Teacher Pingping, which would you say—“您好” or “你好”?

请问…? (Qǐng wèn…?)

If you want to ask a stranger a question, asking directly may sound rude in Chinese. You can add 请问 (qǐng wèn) at the beginning of your question: - “请问，这个学校怎么去？” (Excuse me, how do I get to this school?) - “请问，现在几点了？” (Excuse me, what time is it now?)

您/你方便…吗? (Nín / Nǐ fāngbiàn… ma?)

If you want someone to do something, saying it directly can sound like a command. For example: - “中午你做饭。” (You cook lunch.) This sounds like you’re ordering someone to do it. A polite way to ask would be: - “您/你方便中午做饭吗？” (Are you available to cook lunch?)

Here’s a little practice: if your room is messy and you want a friend to help clean, how would you ask politely?

That’s it for today’s mini lesson with Teacher Pingping. If you have any questions, feel free to ask anytime!