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  • [not use, outdated] How are you?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  • [not use, outdated] May I know your name?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.