How to Say “Nice To Meet You” In Chinese: 10 Phrases
What’s the first thing you do when you meet someone new? Shake their hand? Smile and say, “Nice to meet you”? That would work in most Western countries. But what is the appropriate way of greeting people in China? And how do you translate “nice to meet you” in Chinese?
To put it simply—it depends on the situation. Chinese people use different greetings depending on who they are talking to. You wouldn’t address the Queen of England in the same way you would your best friend now, would you? So let’s explore different ways to say “Nice to meet you” in Mandarin.
1. 很高兴认识你 – Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ
The most common way to say “Hello, nice to meet you” in Chinese is to use 你好,很高兴认识你 nǐhǎo, hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ. The phrase means “Hello, very happy to know you,” and it is used in everyday situations, in both formal and informal settings.
Another variation of the Chinese phrase is 认识你很高兴 rènshi nǐ hěn gāoxìng. As you might have noticed, word order is the only difference here. The latter is also often used when talking to somebody you have already met to express your happiness with the newly-formed relationship. Meanwhile, the original Chinese phrase is strictly used during a first-time introduction.
2. 见到你很高兴 – Jiàndào nǐ hěn gāoxìng
If you want to step up your game and try something new, you can always go with the phrase 见到你 很 高兴 jiàn dào nǐ hěn gāoxìng. This popular expression in Mandarin Chinese means “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Just like with 很 高兴 认识你 hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ, this phrase can also be modified to some degree by switching the words around and saying: 很 高兴 见到 你 hěn gāoxìng jiàn dào nǐ. Both versions use the standard Mandarin pronunciation and mean “Glad to see you.” However, the latter is more applicable when you’ve been talking to someone for a long time but haven’t officially met until that point. In fact, many would argue that using this term with someone you know relatively well or see on an occasional basis would be downright strange.
This is a good phrase to use when getting to know your internet friends for the first time or someone from a dating app.
3. 认识你真好 – Rènshi nǐ zhēn hǎo
Casual and informal, 认识你真好 rènshi nǐ zhēn hǎo is the perfect Chinese phrase to use when you meet a person at a party or a bar. The greeting pretty much translates to “It’s really good to know you.”
You can always modify the expression in various ways to suit the situation. This can come in handy if you need to learn how to reply to “nice to meet you” in Chinese. For example, if you add也 yě after 你 (认识你*也*真好), it quickly turns into “Nice to meet you too” in Chinese.
This is one of the reasons why the Chinese language is so amazing—you can add or remove just a single word and completely change the context of the sentence. It is commonly seen when forming questions and answers. For example, “我认识你吗? wǒ rènshi nǐ ma?” is one of the most common questions in Mandarin and means “Do I know you?” However, by removing the 吗 ma particle from the end, we are left with “我认识你 wǒ rènshi nǐ,” which answers the previous question and means “I know you.”
4. 幸会幸会 – Xìnghuì xìnghuì
Let’s step it up a notch in the politeness department, shall we? The phrase 幸会幸会 xìnghuì xìnghuì is a common formal Chinese greeting. This phrase is generally used when addressing someone respectfully, such as a potential client, new colleague, or boss.
幸 xìng means “fortune, happiness, or good luck,” while 会 huì means “gathering.” Put the two together, and you got yourself a “Fortunate gathering.” It is often used to say “very pleased” or “most honored” during the first encounter.
Duplicated characters occur for multiple reasons in the Chinese language, often to express casualness or affection. For example, in the case of 幸会幸会 xìnghuì xìnghuì, the duplication is used as an intensifier and to express double the enthusiasm while encountering that special someone.
5. 见到您感到很荣幸 – Jiàndào nín gǎndào hěn róngxìng
Another handy Chinese expression you should take note of is 见到您感到很荣幸 jiàn dào nín gǎndào hěn róngxìng. The other version of the same phrase is 认识您感到很荣幸 rènshi nín gǎndào hěn róngxìng.
Both are used in more formal situations and can be interpreted as “It’s an honor to meet you.” The differences between the two phrases are the use of the verb, where the first contains 见到 jiàndào (to see) while the second uses 认识 rènshi (to know.) The latter is frequently used for people you’ve heard about but haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet.
The degree of politeness can also be expressed by using the correct pronouns. This is commonly observed with the courteous 您 nín, as opposed to the informal 你 nǐ. Although both words share the same meaning (you), they differ in how they are used. 您 nín is used as a sign of respect when addressing your superiors or elders, whereas 你 nǐ is used to refer to your peers. Remember—the key is in the details!
6. 今天认识各位朋友很高兴 – Jīntiān rènshi gèwèi péngyou hěn gāoxìng
Navigating Chinese culture and practices, especially in more formal settings, can be the stuff of nightmares. It’s easy to get flustered and confused when meeting a room full of unknown people.
Well, this is the time to call in the big guns. Whether attending a formal gathering, an important conference, or a convention with high officials, you’ll need to make a fine first impression. The best way to respectfully address a lot of people is to use 今天认识各位朋友很高兴 jīntiān rènshi gèwèi péngyou hěn gāoxìng.
The expression means “Nice to meet you all” in Chinese. This one is reserved for big official gatherings and will surely score some brownie points. So if you care to sound like a native Chinese, this phrase will help you with that.
7. 初次见面请多关照 – Chū cì jiànmiàn qǐngduōguānzhào
Originally a Japanese saying, 初次见面请多关照 chū cì jiànmiàn qǐngduōguānzhào is mainly used in Taiwan nowadays. This saying is composed of two different expressions: 初次见面 chū cì jiànmiàn and 请多关照 qǐngduōguānzhào. Those two phrases form a conventional greeting “It’s the first time meeting you. Please be kind.”
Although to the Western eye, asking someone to be kind might seem silly at first glance, in Asia, such expression is a sign of respect, honor, and politeness. This can be tied back to the concept and dynamics of “face” (aka 面子 miànzi) in many Asian countries. In fact, one of the first things they teach you about Asian culture is to learn how and when to give and accept “face” from certain individuals.
8. 久仰大名 – Jiǔyǎngdàmíng
Another one in the line of formal Chinese greetings, 久仰大名 jiǔyǎngdàmíng, is actually a popular Chinese idiom. This polite expression is mainly used to say, “I’ve heard about you for a long time” or “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”
大名 dàmíng literally means “big name” but is often used in the context of “famous” or “distinguished” names. A variation of the phrase 久闻大名 jiǔwéndàmíng is also commonly used when getting to know somebody for the first time. It can be translated as “I’ve long heard your well-known name” or “Your name has been known to me for a long time.”
Suffice to say, this greeting isn’t really appropriate in everyday situations and should be reserved for those select few.
9. 相见恨晚 – Xiāngjiànhènwǎn
Talking about Chinese idioms, it would be a shame not to mention 相见恨晚 xiāngjiànhènwǎn. The greeting is made up of Chinese characters 相见 xiāngjiàn, meaning “meet,” 恨 hèn, meaning “regret,” and 晚 wǎn, which means “late” in this context.
Put it all together, and you got “I regret meeting you so late.” There are various interpretations of this greeting. Some of the most popular ones include “It is nice to finally meet you” and “It feels like we have known each other all along.”
10. 如果给高兴一个定义,那就是认识了你 – Rúguó gěi gāoxìng yī gè dìngyì nà jiùshì rènshi le nǐ
This list wouldn’t be complete without the ultimate greeting turned pick-up line: 如果给高兴一个定义,那就是认识了你 rúguó gěi gāoxìng yī gè dìngyì nà jiùshì rènshi le nǐ. If there were an award for the cheesiest come-on, we are confident this one would make it to the top of the list.
Translating this phrase into English is a task on its own because of the intricacies of the language. However, if you want to chat someone up you are meeting for the first time, “Meeting you is the definition of happiness” can serve as an excellent ice-breaker.
Although you probably won’t get very far, they might agree to a second date if you play your cards right. Add in a few more questions and compliments, and you’ll be home free.
Making a good first impression is always essential, even more so in a culture where reputation, honor, and appearances play a significant role. In addition, knowing how to address your superiors and peers is a sign of good manners. Sometimes, saying a simple “Hi, nice to meet you” in Chinese can make a difference.
You are now equipped to meet (and greet) anyone, from the President of China to a cutie in a bar. Of course, on the off chance you get to meet the President, we would advise you to avoid using the last phrase on the list. Fortunately, you’ve got a list of other expressions to browse and search through. So use this knowledge wisely to form new relationships and expand your social circle!