Lesson 1: Basic Greetings and Self-Introduction
Learn essential Mandarin greetings, introduce yourself, and master your first HSK characters with pinyin pronunciation
Lesson 1: Basic Greetings and Self-Introduction 🇨🇳
Introduction 👋
Welcome to your first lesson in Mandarin Chinese! In this lesson, you'll learn the most fundamental building blocks of communication: greetings and self-introductions. These are essential for HSK Level 1 and will help you start conversations with native speakers from day one.
What you'll master:
- 10 essential Chinese characters (汉字 - hànzì)
- Pinyin pronunciation system
- Tone marks and their importance
- Basic conversation patterns
- Cultural context for greetings
🎯 HSK Level 1 Focus: All vocabulary in this lesson appears on the HSK 1 exam, which tests 150 words total.
Core Concept 1: The Pinyin System 🔤
Pinyin (拼音 - pīnyīn) is the romanization system for Mandarin Chinese. It uses Latin letters to represent Chinese sounds, making it easier for beginners to learn pronunciation before mastering characters.
The Four Tones 🎵
Mandarin is a tonal language, meaning the pitch contour of a syllable changes its meaning. There are four main tones plus a neutral tone:
Tone 1 (ˉ): High and flat mā (妈 - mother)
Tone 2 (ˊ): Rising má (麻 - hemp/numb)
Tone 3 (ˇ): Falling-rising mǎ (马 - horse)
Tone 4 (ˋ): Falling sharply mà (骂 - to scold)
Neutral: Light, unstressed ma (吗 - question particle)
💡 Tone Memory Trick: Imagine the four tones as a musical scale:
- Tone 1: Singing a high note steadily
- Tone 2: Asking "What?" in English (voice goes up)
- Tone 3: Saying "Really?" with doubt (dips then rises)
- Tone 4: A firm "No!" (sharp drop)
🤔 Did you know? The same syllable "ma" with different tones creates completely different meanings. The famous tongue-twister is: "妈妈骂马吗?" (Māma mà mǎ ma?) - "Does mother scold the horse?"
Core Concept 2: Essential Greeting Vocabulary 👥
Let's learn your first Chinese characters and phrases:
Basic Greetings
+----------------+----------+------------------+
| Character(s) | Pinyin | Meaning |
+----------------+----------+------------------+
| 你 | nǐ | you |
| 好 | hǎo | good/well |
| 你好 | nǐ hǎo | hello |
| 您 | nín | you (formal) |
| 您好 | nín hǎo | hello (formal) |
| 早 | zǎo | early/morning |
| 早上 | zǎoshang | morning |
| 早上好 | zǎoshang hǎo | good morning |
+----------------+----------+------------------+
Character Breakdown 🔍
Let's examine 你好 (nǐ hǎo - hello):
你 (nǐ - you):
- Left side: 亻(person radical)
- Right side: 尔 (phonetic component)
- Think: A person addressing you
好 (hǎo - good):
- Left side: 女 (woman)
- Right side: 子 (child)
- Ancient meaning: A woman with child = good/harmonious
- 🧠 Mnemonic: A mother (女) with child (子) = something good!
Core Concept 3: Self-Introduction Essentials 🙋
Key Vocabulary for Introducing Yourself
+----------------+----------+------------------+
| Character(s) | Pinyin | Meaning |
+----------------+----------+------------------+
| 我 | wǒ | I/me |
| 是 | shì | to be/am/is |
| 叫 | jiào | to be called |
| 名字 | míngzi | name |
| 什么 | shénme | what |
| 吗 | ma | (question particle) |
+----------------+----------+------------------+
Sentence Patterns 📋
Pattern 1: Stating your name
我叫 + [name]
Wǒ jiào + [name]
I am called [name]
Example: 我叫李明。(Wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng.) - I'm called Li Ming.
Pattern 2: Using "to be"
我是 + [name/identity]
Wǒ shì + [name/identity]
I am [name/identity]
Example: 我是学生。(Wǒ shì xuésheng.) - I am a student.
Pattern 3: Asking someone's name
你叫什么名字？
Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
What is your name? (literally: You are called what name?)
💡 HSK Tip: The character 吗 (ma) turns any statement into a yes/no question. Just add it to the end!
- Statement: 你好 (Nǐ hǎo) - You're well
- Question: 你好吗？(Nǐ hǎo ma?) - Are you well? / How are you?
Example 1: Meeting Someone for the First Time 🤝
🎭 Situational Scenario: At a Language Exchange Event
You're at a Chinese language meetup. A friendly person approaches you. Here's how the conversation unfolds:
💬 Dialogue:
Person A: 你好！
(Nǐ hǎo!)
Hello!
You: 你好！
(Nǐ hǎo!)
Hello!
Person A: 你叫什么名字？
(Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?)
What's your name?
You: 我叫[Your Name]。你呢？
(Wǒ jiào [Your Name]. Nǐ ne?)
I'm called [Your Name]. And you?
Person A: 我叫王芳。
(Wǒ jiào Wáng Fāng.)
I'm called Wang Fang.
🗣️ Pronunciation Notes:
- 你好 (nǐ hǎo): The "h" sound is stronger than English, almost like clearing your throat gently
- 什么 (shénme): The "sh" is pronounced with tongue curled back, and "me" is neutral tone (lighter, quicker)
- 呢 (ne): A short particle that means "and you?" or "what about...?"
🎯 Cultural Context:
In Chinese culture, when meeting someone new:
- A slight nod or bow accompanies 你好 (nǐ hǎo)
- Handshakes are common in business settings
- Chinese names follow the pattern: Family name + Given name (e.g., 王芳 = Wang is the surname, Fang is the given name)
- Don't be surprised if people ask your age or marital status - these aren't considered intrusive questions in Chinese culture
Example 2: Formal Greeting Situation 🏢
🎭 Situational Scenario: Meeting Your Language Teacher
It's your first day of Chinese class. You want to greet your teacher respectfully.
💬 Dialogue:
You: 老师，您好！
(Lǎoshī, nín hǎo!)
Teacher, hello! (formal)
Teacher: 你好！你叫什么名字？
(Nǐ hǎo! Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?)
Hello! What's your name?
You: 我叫[Your Name]。
(Wǒ jiào [Your Name].)
I'm called [Your Name].
Teacher: 很好！
(Hěn hǎo!)
Very good!
🆚 Confused Pairs: 你 (nǐ) vs. 您 (nín)
Both mean "you," but there's an important distinction:
+----------+----------+------------------+
| Character| Pinyin | Usage |
+----------+----------+------------------+
| 你 | nǐ | Casual "you" |
| | | Friends, peers |
| | | Informal settings|
+----------+----------+------------------+
| 您 | nín | Formal "you" |
| | | Elders, teachers |
| | | Business contexts|
+----------+----------+------------------+
🧠 Memory Trick: 您 (nín) has a "心" (heart) at the bottom = you show heart/respect to the person!
Example 3: Morning Greeting 🌅
🎭 Situational Scenario: Morning at Your Chinese Homestay
You're staying with a Chinese host family. It's 7 AM and you come down for breakfast.
💬 Dialogue:
You: 早上好！
(Zǎoshang hǎo!)
Good morning!
Host Mom: 早上好！你好吗？
(Zǎoshang hǎo! Nǐ hǎo ma?)
Good morning! How are you?
You: 我很好，谢谢！
(Wǒ hěn hǎo, xièxie!)
I'm very well, thank you!
New Vocabulary in This Dialogue:
+----------------+----------+------------------+
| Character(s) | Pinyin | Meaning |
+----------------+----------+------------------+
| 很 | hěn | very |
| 谢谢 | xièxie | thank you |
+----------------+----------+------------------+
🗣️ Pronunciation Challenge: 谢谢 (xièxie)
- x-: Like "sh" in "sheep" but with tongue forward
- ie: Sounds like "yeah" in English
- xiè: Say "sh-yeah" quickly
- Both syllables are 4th tone (falling sharply)
🎯 Practice tip: Record yourself saying 谢谢 (xièxie) and compare it to a native speaker. The "x" sound doesn't exist in English, so it takes practice!
Example 4: Complete Self-Introduction 📝
🎭 Situational Scenario: First Day at Chinese Language School
Your teacher asks you to introduce yourself to the class. Here's a complete introduction:
💬 Full Introduction:
大家好！
(Dàjiā hǎo!)
Hello everyone!
我叫[Your Name]。
(Wǒ jiào [Your Name].)
I'm called [Your Name].
我是学生。
(Wǒ shì xuésheng.)
I am a student.
很高兴认识你们！
(Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐmen!)
Very pleased to meet you all!
New Vocabulary Breakdown:
+----------------+----------+------------------+
| Character(s) | Pinyin | Meaning |
+----------------+----------+------------------+
| 大家 | dàjiā | everyone |
| 学生 | xuésheng | student |
| 很高兴 | hěn gāoxìng | very happy |
| 认识 | rènshi | to know/meet |
| 你们 | nǐmen | you (plural) |
+----------------+----------+------------------+
💡 Grammar Note: Adding 们 (men) to 你 (nǐ) makes it plural: 你们 (nǐmen - you all/you guys)
📖 Mini-Story: Using All Our Vocabulary Together
李明的早晨 (Lǐ Míng's Morning)
Let's follow Li Ming through his morning, using all the vocabulary from this lesson:
早上，李明很早起床。
(Zǎoshang, Lǐ Míng hěn zǎo qǐchuáng.)
In the morning, Li Ming wakes up very early.
他看见妈妈，说："妈妈，早上好！"
(Tā kànjiàn māma, shuō: "Māma, zǎoshang hǎo!")
He sees his mom and says: "Mom, good morning!"
妈妈问："你好吗？"
(Māma wèn: "Nǐ hǎo ma?")
Mom asks: "How are you?"
李明说："我很好，谢谢！"
(Lǐ Míng shuō: "Wǒ hěn hǎo, xièxie!")
Li Ming says: "I'm very well, thank you!"
在学校，老师问："你叫什么名字？"
(Zài xuéxiào, lǎoshī wèn: "Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?")
At school, the teacher asks: "What's your name?"
他说："老师您好，我叫李明。我是学生。"
(Tā shuō: "Lǎoshī nín hǎo, wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng. Wǒ shì xuésheng.")
He says: "Hello teacher, I'm called Li Ming. I am a student."
老师说："很好！很高兴认识你！"
(Lǎoshī shuō: "Hěn hǎo! Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ!")
The teacher says: "Very good! Very pleased to meet you!"
🔧 Try this: Cover the pinyin and English, then try to read the Chinese characters alone. Can you follow the story?
Common Mistakes ⚠️
Mistake 1: Tone Confusion 🎵
❌ Wrong: Saying 你好 (nǐ hǎo) with wrong tones - "ni hao" flat ✅ Correct: 你好 (nǐ hǎo) - 3rd tone dip + 3rd tone (which becomes 2nd tone before another 3rd tone!)
Why it matters: 买 (mǎi - to buy) vs. 卖 (mài - to sell) - imagine the confusion in a shop!
Mistake 2: Forgetting 吗 (ma) in Questions
❌ Wrong: 你好 (Nǐ hǎo) when you mean to ask "How are you?" ✅ Correct: 你好吗？(Nǐ hǎo ma?) - The 吗 makes it a question!
Mistake 3: Using 你 (nǐ) in Formal Situations
❌ Wrong: 老师，你好 (Lǎoshī, nǐ hǎo) - using casual "you" to a teacher ✅ Correct: 老师，您好 (Lǎoshī, nín hǎo) - using formal "you"
Cultural insight: This shows respect. Think of 您 (nín) like using "sir/ma'am" in English.
Mistake 4: Word Order in Questions
❌ Wrong: 什么你叫名字？(Shénme nǐ jiào míngzi?) - Direct translation from "What are you called name?" ✅ Correct: 你叫什么名字？(Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?) - "You are called what name?"
Rule: In Chinese, question words (什么, 谁, 哪里) stay in the same position as the answer would be, not at the beginning like English.
Mistake 5: Pronouncing Pinyin Like English
❌ Wrong: Pronouncing "xi" in 谢谢 (xièxie) like "ksee" ✅ Correct: "xi" sounds like "shee" with tongue forward
Common pinyin that tricks English speakers:
+----------+------------------+------------------+
| Pinyin | NOT like... | Actually sounds |
+----------+------------------+------------------+
| x | "eks" | like "sh" forward|
| q | "kw" | like "ch" forward|
| c | "s" | like "ts" |
| zh | "z" | like "j" curled |
| r | English "r" | like "r" + "j" |
+----------+------------------+------------------+
Key Takeaways 🎯
Essential Vocabulary (HSK 1)
You've learned 15 core words/phrases that appear on the HSK 1 exam:
- 你 (nǐ) - you
- 您 (nín) - you (formal)
- 好 (hǎo) - good
- 你好 (nǐ hǎo) - hello
- 早上 (zǎoshang) - morning
- 我 (wǒ) - I/me
- 是 (shì) - to be
- 叫 (jiào) - to be called
- 名字 (míngzi) - name
- 什么 (shénme) - what
- 吗 (ma) - question particle
- 很 (hěn) - very
- 谢谢 (xièxie) - thank you
- 大家 (dàjiā) - everyone
- 学生 (xuésheng) - student
Grammar Patterns Mastered:
- ✅ Subject + 是 + Noun (我是学生)
- ✅ Subject + 叫 + Name (我叫李明)
- ✅ Question Word placement (你叫什么名字？)
- ✅ Statement + 吗 = Yes/No Question (你好吗？)
Cultural Knowledge:
- 🎭 Use 您 (nín) for elders, teachers, and formal situations
- 🤝 Greetings often accompanied by slight bow or nod
- 📛 Chinese names: Family name comes first
- ⏰ 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo) typically used before noon
Pronunciation Skills:
- 🎵 Four tones + neutral tone
- 🗣️ Tone 3 + Tone 3 = Tone 2 + Tone 3 (tone sandhi rule)
- 🔤 Pinyin special sounds: x, q, zh, c
📋 Quick Reference Card - Your HSK 1 Cheat Sheet
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ GREETINGS & INTRODUCTIONS - HSK 1 ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ GREETINGS: ║
║ 你好 (nǐ hǎo) - Hello (casual) ║
║ 您好 (nín hǎo) - Hello (formal) ║
║ 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo) - Good morning ║
║ 你好吗？(nǐ hǎo ma?) - How are you? ║
║ ║
║ RESPONSES: ║
║ 我很好 (wǒ hěn hǎo) - I'm very well ║
║ 谢谢 (xièxie) - Thank you ║
║ ║
║ SELF-INTRODUCTION: ║
║ 我叫... (wǒ jiào...) - I'm called... ║
║ 我是学生 (wǒ shì xuésheng) - I'm a student ║
║ 你叫什么名字？(nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?) ║
║ - What's your name? ║
║ ║
║ KEY GRAMMAR: ║
║ • Add 吗 (ma) to make yes/no questions ║
║ • Use 您 (nín) for respect ║
║ • 什么 (shénme) = what (stays in place) ║
║ ║
║ TONE REMINDER: ║
║ ˉ (1st) ˊ (2nd) ˇ (3rd) ˋ (4th) neutral ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
📚 Further Study
Ready to continue your HSK 1 journey? Here are excellent resources:
HSK Official Website - Practice tests and study materials
https://www.chinesetest.cn/goIndex.doArch Chinese - Character practice with stroke order and pinyin
https://www.archchinese.com/chinese_english_dictionary.htmlHelloChinese App - Interactive lessons aligned with HSK levels
https://www.hellochinese.cc/
🎉 Congratulations! You've completed your first lesson in Mandarin Chinese! You can now greet people, introduce yourself, and understand basic conversation patterns. Practice these phrases daily - even just greeting yourself in the mirror with "你好！" helps build confidence.
Next lesson preview: We'll learn numbers 1-10, how to ask "how much?", and basic shopping phrases. 加油！(Jiāyóu! - Keep going!)