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Home/Beginner/Lesson 8/Grammar

Grammar Patterns

Master the key grammar patterns used in greetings and introductions. Learn how to use different expressions appropriately in various social contexts.

5 Grammar PatternsReal-world ExamplesUsage Guidelines
Time-based Greetings: 早上好 vs 早安 vs 晚上好 vs 晚安
Different ways to greet people depending on the time of day
早上好 (Zǎoshang hǎo)
Good morning (more formal, used in morning hours)
Example: 早上好，今天天气很好。
Good morning, the weather is nice today.
Usage: Used in formal or professional settings in the morning
早安 (Zǎo ān)
Good morning (more casual, shorter form)
Example: 早安！
Morning!
Usage: Used casually between friends, family, or on social media
晚上好 (Wǎnshang hǎo)
Good evening (formal)
Example: 晚上好，你好吗？
Good evening, how are you?
Usage: Used in formal or professional settings in the evening
晚安 (Wǎn ān)
Good night (before sleep)
Example: 晚安，明天见。
Good night, see you tomorrow.
Usage: Used when saying goodbye before going to sleep
Very Happy to Meet You: 很高兴认识你
The standard expression for greeting someone new
很高兴认识你 (Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ)
Nice to meet you (formal and polite)
Example: 你好，我是李一明。很高兴认识你。
Hello, I'm Li Yiming. Nice to meet you.
Usage: Used in formal introductions or when meeting someone for the first time
幸会 (Xìnghuì)
Nice to meet you (more concise, slightly formal)
Example: 幸会幸会。
Nice to meet you.
Usage: A shorter, more elegant way to express the same sentiment
很高兴认识你 + 名字
Nice to meet you + person's name
Example: 张朋朋，很高兴认识你。
Zhang Pengpeng, nice to meet you.
Usage: Used to address someone specifically when greeting them
Have You Eaten?: 吃了吗?
A common Northern Chinese greeting, not always about actual eating
吃了吗？(Chī le ma?)
Have you eaten? (Northern Chinese greeting)
Example: 李一明，吃了吗？
Li Yiming, have you eaten?
Usage: A casual greeting in Northern China, similar to 'How are you?'
吃了吃了。(Chī le, chī le.)
Yes, I have (standard response)
Example: 吃了吃了。你呢？
Yes, I have. How about you?
Usage: The typical response, regardless of whether you actually ate
Cultural Note
In Northern China, this is a standard greeting, not a literal question
Example: The response doesn't need to be truthful; it's just a social convention
Even if you haven't eaten, you typically say '吃了' (I have)
Usage: Similar to how 'How are you?' doesn't always require a detailed answer
Introducing Others: 这是...的朋友
How to introduce someone to another person
这是我的朋友 (Zhè shì wǒ de péngyou)
This is my friend
Example: 这是我的朋友张朋朋。
This is my friend Zhang Pengpeng.
Usage: Basic introduction of a friend
这是我的好朋友 (Zhè shì wǒ de hǎo péngyou)
This is my good friend (closer relationship)
Example: 这是我的好朋友张朋朋。
This is my good friend Zhang Pengpeng.
Usage: Emphasizes a closer friendship
这是...，我想介绍给你 (Zhè shì..., wǒ xiǎng jièshào gěi nǐ)
This is..., I'd like to introduce (to) you
Example: 这是张朋朋，我想介绍给你。
This is Zhang Pengpeng, I'd like to introduce (to) you.
Usage: More formal way to introduce someone
Simple Self-Introduction: 我是... / 我叫...
Two ways to introduce yourself
我是... (Wǒ shì...)
I am... (more formal, using full name or title)
Example: 我是李一明。
I am Li Yiming.
Usage: Used in formal settings or professional contexts
我叫... (Wǒ jiào...)
My name is... (more casual)
Example: 我叫张朋朋。
My name is Zhang Pengpeng.
Usage: Used in casual settings or when meeting friends
你好，我是/叫... (Nǐ hǎo, wǒ shì/jiào...)
Hello, I am/My name is...
Example: 你好，我叫张朋朋。
Hello, my name is Zhang Pengpeng.
Usage: Standard greeting combined with introduction
Key Takeaways

• Different greetings are used based on time of day and context (早上好, 晚上好, 晚安)

• "很高兴认识你" is the standard way to express pleasure at meeting someone new

• "吃了吗?" is a Northern Chinese greeting that doesn't require a truthful answer

• Use "这是我的朋友/好朋友" to introduce someone to another person

• Both "我是" and "我叫" can be used for self-introduction, with different formality levels