Skip to content

Conversation

How to start a conversation.

  • Greetings
    • Hello / Hi.
    • [casual] How's it going? How are you doing?
    • [more casual] Hey, what's up?
    • [ask about sth] How's everything / life / your job / your family? How are your parents?
      • [response] Great. / Pretty good. / I'm doing great. / They are doing great.
      • [ask back] What about you? How about you?
    • [not use, outdated] How are you?
    • [not use, nearly extinct] How do you do?
  • Strike up a conversation (搭讪)
    • [praise] wow I really like your skirt / coat / hairstyle / eyes / shoes / ...
    • [praise] wow that's a really cool camera / phone / jacket / ...
    • [language] Excuse me, I just heard you speaking Chinese. You are pretty good.
    • [seat] Excuse me, it this seat taken? / is anyone sitting here?
      • [response] Oh, no body sits here.
    • [place] This place is pretty cool. Do you come here often?
    • [help] Do you need a hand? (Do you need help?)
  • Introduction
    • Hi, nice to meet you. I'm XXX.
    • Pleased to meet you. / It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm XXX.
      • [response] I've heard a lot of things about you.
      • [response] XXX has told me about you.
    • [formal] Allow me to introduce myself. I'm XXX. This is my business card.
    • [my job] I'm a engineer. / I'm in IT. / I work for a state-owned company.
  • Introduce someone
    • I'd like you to meet a friend of mine.
    • Let me introduce you to my friend, XXX.
    • This is XXX.
  • Ask for name.
    • Excuse me, but I don't think I know your name.
    • I'm sorry, but I don't believe I know your name.
      • [response] Oh, my name is XXX.
    • [ask again] I'm so sorry, could you tell me your name again?
    • [not use, outdated] May I know your name?
    • [not use, too direct] What's your name?

  • Else

    • So, have you lived here long?
    • Have you worked here long?
    • Do you live around here?
    • Do you come here often?
    • Job
    • So, what do you do, if you don't mind me asking?
    • So what do you do for a living?
    • Can I ask what do you do?
    • [direct] What's your job?
    • China
    • So, how did you end up in China?
    • Are you used to the life here?

Daily topics

  • family

    • Do you have any brothers or sisters?

      • [response] I've got an older / a younger brother / sister.
      • [response] I'm an only child.
        • Where are your family from?
        • What do your parents do?
        • [familiar only] Are you married? Do you have kids yet?
  • hobby
    • So, what do you like to do in your spare time?
    • So, what do you like to do to relax?
    • [direct] What are your hobbies? What are you interested in?
      • [response] I like travelling / dancing / ...
    • what kind of music do you like to listen to?
      • [response] I like pop / rock / classical / jazz music.

End a topic

  • goodbye
    • [mostly used by children] bye-bye
    • See you (later)
    • Have a good (day/night/one)!

  • interrupt

    • [will come back] Excuse me for a minute. I'll be right back.
    • Well, I've got to go.
    • Well, I should be going.
    • Hey, I should go, or I'll be late for work/meeting/flight.
    • Well, I won't bother you anymore.
    • I should get back to my work. / I should let you get back to your work.

  • polite

    • It was great to talk to you today. / It was really nice to talk to you. / It was really nice meeting you.
    • I really enjoyed our chat.
  • ask for social accounts
    • Do you have WeChat? Can I add you on WeChat?
    • Shall I scan you, or do you want to scan me?
  • next time
    • Let's go for a coffee next time.
    • Are you free any time next week?
    • Do you have time on Saturday?
  • greetings
    • Say hello to your parents for me.
    • [formal] Send my regards to your family.
    • Take care.
    • Look after yourself.
    • Keep in touch.