您好 (nín hǎo) — hello (formal/respectful)

您好 (nín hǎo)

您好 is the formal and respectful version of 你好. It is used when greeting elders, teachers, bosses, clients, or anyone to whom you wish to show deference.

Meanings

1. [phrase] Hello (formal/respectful). A polite greeting used toward people of higher status or those deserving respect.

Example Sentences

王老师，您好！ Wáng lǎoshī, nín hǎo! Hello, Teacher Wang!

您好，我可以帮您吗？ Nín hǎo, wǒ kěyǐ bāng nín ma? Hello, may I help you?

爷爷，您好！身体好吗？ Yéye, nín hǎo! Shēntǐ hǎo ma? Hello, Grandpa! How is your health?

您好，这里是客服中心。 Nín hǎo, zhèlǐ shì kèfú zhōngxīn. Hello, this is the customer service center.

Usage Notes

您 (nín) is the formal and honorific form of 你 (nǐ). It does not have a plural form in modern usage. Use 您好 in these situations: addressing teachers, professors, elderly relatives, bosses, customers (in service contexts), or strangers who are clearly older than you. Among peers or close friends, 你好 is more natural. Using 您好 with a peer is not wrong but can sound overly stiff. In phone customer service in China, 您好 is almost always the opening word.

Collocations or Common Phrases

Memory Hook

您 = 你 + 心 (heart) — addressing someone with your full heart, giving them the respect they deserve.