Use Authentic Chinese Greetings to Quickly Build Bonds - Mandarin Version 'Hello'- '吃了吗'

Many people have stereotypes about Chinese people, believing that everyday conversations are always very formal, which often makes them seem reserved and leads to awkwardness. As a native Chinese speaker, I will introduce ten greetings below that can help you build rapport with Chinese people.

The 1st one as below:

Hello=吃了吗？

The literal meaning of this phrase is: "Have you eaten?"

Actually, after meeting someone once, Chinese people will no longer use "你好" to start a conversation.This is because it sounds very distant and strange; misusing "你好" can make the atmosphere very cold.

Using "吃了吗?" quickly bridges the gap between people because it feels friendly and unassuming, conveying concern from a friend. Furthermore, it's versatile; most people eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so it can be used almost any time except when sleeping.

吃了吗？

chī le ma