10 Chinese Phrases for Everyday Conversation

Textbooks teach you 你好 (nǐ hǎo) as the standard greeting — and it works. But real Mandarin conversations are full of phrases that textbooks skip over. Learning these will make you sound more natural and help you connect with native speakers much faster.

1. 你吃了吗？(Nǐ chī le ma?) — 'Have you eaten?' This is one of the most common casual greetings in Chinese, especially among older generations. It's not a literal question about food — it's the equivalent of 'How are you?' Knowing this one phrase shows cultural awareness that native speakers genuinely appreciate.

2. 没关系 (Méi guānxi) — 'It's okay / No problem.' You'll use this constantly. Someone bumps into you, apologizes for being late, or makes a small mistake — this is your go-to response. It's warm, casual, and universally understood.

3. 随便 (Suíbiàn) — 'Whatever / Up to you.' When someone asks where you want to eat or what you want to do, 随便 is the relaxed, easy-going answer. It signals you're flexible and easygoing — a quality Chinese culture values in social situations.

4. 慢慢来 (Màn màn lái) — 'Take your time / No rush.' This phrase is used to put someone at ease. If a friend is stressed or rushing, 慢慢来 is a gentle, reassuring thing to say. It also reflects a broader cultural value of patience and calm.

5. 加油！(Jiā yóu!) — 'Come on! / You've got this!' Literally 'add oil', this is the Chinese equivalent of 'Go for it!' or 'Keep going!' You'll hear it at sporting events, before exams, and whenever someone needs encouragement. It's energetic, positive, and very Chinese.

The remaining five phrases — covering how to ask for the bill, how to say you don't understand, how to compliment food, how to say goodbye warmly, and how to ask someone to speak more slowly — are covered in the ChineseShifu app's Everyday Phrases module, with audio from native speakers and tone practice built in.