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50 Chinese (Mandarin) conversation starters

Mandarin has no separate polite verb endings, so a friendly, neutral tone works with almost anyone. 你 (nǐ) is fine for a chat partner of similar age; 您 (nín) is the respectful "you" for someone clearly older. Adding 请 (please) and 谢谢 (thank you) keeps things courteous without sounding stiff.

Food is the easiest way into a Chinese conversation. "Have you eaten?" is a traditional greeting, and people love talking about their hometown dishes, whether they can handle spicy food, and the north-south divide between noodles and rice. Ask about local specialties and you will rarely run out of things to say.

Saying hello

1. 你好！
Nǐ hǎo!
Hello!
您好 (nín hǎo) is more respectful.
2. 很高兴认识你。
Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.
Nice to meet you.
3. 我叫○○，你怎么称呼？
Wǒ jiào ○○, nǐ zěnme chēnghu?
I'm ○○. What should I call you?
A polite way to ask for a name or nickname.
4. 你吃了吗？
Nǐ chī le ma?
Have you eaten?
A traditional friendly greeting, more common among older people.
5. 今天过得怎么样？
Jīntiān guò de zěnmeyàng?
How's your day going?
6. 很高兴能跟你聊天。
Hěn gāoxìng néng gēn nǐ liáotiān.
I'm glad I get to chat with you.
7. 你现在方便聊聊吗？
Nǐ xiànzài fāngbiàn liáoliao ma?
Is now a good time to chat?

Where you are & time zones

8. 你在哪个国家？
Nǐ zài nǎge guójiā?
Which country are you in?
9. 我在成都。
Wǒ zài Chéngdū.
I'm in Chengdu.
A city is enough; never share an exact address.
10. 你那边现在几点？
Nǐ nàbiān xiànzài jǐ diǎn?
What time is it where you are?
11. 我这边已经晚上十点了。
Wǒ zhèbiān yǐjīng wǎnshang shí diǎn le.
It's already 10 p.m. here.
12. 你那儿跟北京时间差几个小时？
Nǐ nàr gēn Běijīng shíjiān chà jǐ ge xiǎoshí?
How many hours are you from Beijing time?
All of China uses one time zone: Beijing time (UTC+8).
13. 你来过中国吗？
Nǐ láiguo Zhōngguó ma?
Have you ever been to China?

Food

14. 你喜欢吃什么？
Nǐ xǐhuan chī shénme?
What do you like to eat?
15. 你们那儿有什么特色菜？
Nǐmen nàr yǒu shénme tèsè cài?
What are the local specialties where you are?
16. 你能吃辣吗？
Nǐ néng chī là ma?
Can you handle spicy food?
A very common question, especially from Sichuan or Hunan people.
17. 成都人特别爱吃火锅。
Chéngdūrén tèbié ài chī huǒguō.
People in Chengdu really love hotpot.
18. 你吃过地道的中国菜吗？
Nǐ chīguo dìdao de Zhōngguó cài ma?
Have you ever had authentic Chinese food?
19. 你喜欢吃饺子还是包子？
Nǐ xǐhuan chī jiǎozi háishi bāozi?
Do you prefer dumplings or steamed buns?
20. 北方人爱吃面，南方人爱吃米饭。
Běifāngrén ài chī miàn, nánfāngrén ài chī mǐfàn.
Northerners love noodles; southerners love rice.
A popular generalisation and a fun topic to debate.
21. 你早饭一般吃什么？
Nǐ zǎofàn yìbān chī shénme?
What do you usually have for breakfast?
Chinese breakfasts vary a lot by region: soy milk, noodles, buns, congee.
22. 你会做饭吗？
Nǐ huì zuò fàn ma?
Do you cook?
23. 听起来好好吃啊！
Tīng qǐlai hǎo hǎochī a!
That sounds so tasty!

Weather & seasons

24. 你那边天气怎么样？
Nǐ nàbiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng?
How's the weather where you are?
25. 我这边今天下雨了。
Wǒ zhèbiān jīntiān xià yǔ le.
It rained here today.
Snow: 下雪 (xià xuě).
26. 最近天气转凉了。
Zuìjìn tiānqì zhuǎn liáng le.
It's been getting cooler lately.
27. 你最喜欢哪个季节？
Nǐ zuì xǐhuan nǎge jìjié?
Which season do you like best?
28. 中国很大，南北气候差别很大。
Zhōngguó hěn dà, nán běi qìhòu chābié hěn dà.
China is huge, and the climate in the north and south is very different.
Harbin winters are freezing while Guangzhou stays warm.

Hobbies & music

29. 你平时有什么爱好？
Nǐ píngshí yǒu shénme àihào?
What do you like to do in your free time?
30. 你周末一般做什么？
Nǐ zhōumò yìbān zuò shénme?
What do you usually do on weekends?
31. 你最近在听什么歌？
Nǐ zuìjìn zài tīng shénme gē?
What songs are you listening to lately?
32. 你看中国的电视剧吗？
Nǐ kàn Zhōngguó de diànshìjù ma?
Do you watch Chinese TV dramas?
33. 有什么好看的电影推荐吗？
Yǒu shénme hǎokàn de diànyǐng tuījiàn ma?
Any good movies you'd recommend?
34. 我也喜欢！
Wǒ yě xǐhuan!
I like it too!

Travel & local tips

35. 去你们那儿玩，有什么推荐的地方吗？
Qù nǐmen nàr wán, yǒu shénme tuījiàn de dìfang ma?
If I visit your area, where would you recommend going?
玩 (wán) here means to go sightseeing or have fun.
36. 有没有只有本地人才知道的好地方？
Yǒu méiyǒu zhǐyǒu běndìrén cái zhīdào de hǎo dìfang?
Is there a nice spot only locals know about?
37. 什么时候去旅游最合适？
Shénme shíhou qù lǚyóu zuì héshì?
When is the best time to travel there?
38. 来中国的话，最好避开国庆黄金周。
Lái Zhōngguó dehuà, zuìhǎo bìkāi Guóqìng huángjīnzhōu.
If you come to China, it's best to avoid the National Day Golden Week.
October 1 to 7: huge crowds at every famous sight.
39. 在中国，出门基本都用手机支付。
Zài Zhōngguó, chūmén jīběn dōu yòng shǒujī zhīfù.
In China, people pay with their phones for almost everything.
40. 坐高铁旅行又快又舒服。
Zuò gāotiě lǚxíng yòu kuài yòu shūfu.
Travelling by high-speed rail is fast and comfortable.

Language practice

41. 我在学中文。
Wǒ zài xué Zhōngwén.
I'm learning Chinese.
42. 如果我说错了，请帮我纠正一下。
Rúguǒ wǒ shuō cuò le, qǐng bāng wǒ jiūzhèng yíxià.
If I say something wrong, please correct me.
43. 能说得简单一点吗？
Néng shuō de jiǎndān yìdiǎn ma?
Could you put it a bit more simply?
44. 这个用中文怎么说？
Zhège yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?
How do you say this in Chinese?
45. 这是什么意思？
Zhè shì shénme yìsi?
What does this mean?
46. 我这样说自然吗？
Wǒ zhèyàng shuō zìrán ma?
Does it sound natural when I say it like this?

Wrapping up politely

47. 今天聊得很开心！
Jīntiān liáo de hěn kāixīn!
I really enjoyed chatting today!
48. 谢谢你陪我聊天。
Xièxie nǐ péi wǒ liáotiān.
Thanks for chatting with me.
49. 祝你一切顺利！
Zhù nǐ yíqiè shùnlì!
Wishing you all the best!
50. 晚安，早点休息。
Wǎn'ān, zǎo diǎn xiūxi.
Good night, get some rest.
A caring way to end a late-night chat.

Tips

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