Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer to this test is B.
Translation:
Lily: Yìnián méi jiàn le. Nǐ hǎo ma?
Lily: 一年没见了。你好吗？
We haven’t seen each other for one year. How are you doing?
Lucy: Wǒ hěn hǎo.
Lucy: 我很好。
I am fine.
(Learn daily Chinese expressions to help you get around China.)
Analysis:
In Chinese, when people greet you by saying “你好吗 (nǐ hǎo ma) how are you,” we usually respond by saying “我很好 (wǒ hěn hǎo) I’m fine,” “挺好的 (tǐng hǎo de) pretty good,” “不太好 (bú tài hǎo) not very well,” and there are also other polite greetings that can be used.
“你好吗 (nǐ hǎo ma) how are you” is often used among acquaintances. So, when Lily asked Lucy how she was doing, Lucy said “我很好 (wǒ hěn hǎo) I’m fine.”
Another greeting commonly used in China is “你好 (nǐ hǎo) hello,” and the right response should be “你好 (nǐ hǎo) hello.” It is used on almost all occasions.
Examples:
1.
Mary: Shì nǐ ya! Háojiǔ méi jiàn le, nǐ hǎo ma?
Mary: 是你呀！好久没见了，你好吗？
It’s you! Long time no see. How are you?
Susan: Tǐng hǎo de, nǐ ne?
Susan: 挺好 的，你呢？
I am pretty good. How about you?
2.
Mary: Nǐhǎo, wǒ shì Mary.
Mary: 你好，我是 Mary。
Hello, I’m Mary.
Mike: Nǐhǎo, wǒ shì Mike.
Mike: 你好，我是 Mike。
Hello, I’m Mike.
<<Back to Mini-test
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很 好 。
很 好