Greetings and conversation

What holds these lists together

Chinese politeness is carried less by grammar than by the choice of words, and by what is left unsaid. There is one polite "you", 您(nín), for older people, customers and strangers in a formal setting; among friends the plain 你(nǐ) is warmer rather than ruder. Thanks weigh more than in English: a formal 谢谢(xièxie) for a small favour between close friends or family can sound distant, as if the other person were a guest. A compliment is traditionally turned aside rather than accepted, with 哪里(nǎli)哪里(nǎli), "where, where?", although a simple thank-you is common too. The quick reactions — 真的(zhēnde)吗(ma)？, 太(tài)好(hǎo)了(le)！, 算了(suànle) — are learned whole, as they are said, and the lists climb from the first hello to persuading, praising, criticising gently and choosing words with care.

For example: 你好(nǐhǎo) (hello), 讨论(tǎolùn) (to discuss; discussion), 真的吗(zhēndema) (really?; is that true?), 沟通(gōutōng) (to communicate; to get through to each other), 不好意思(bùhǎoyìsi) (sorry; excuse me; to feel embarrassed), 委婉(wěiwǎn) (tactful, indirect (in speech))

Spread across the levels

The category runs across the levels — it is an area, not a difficulty. If you practise it, you can also choose a level at the top of the practice page and then get only the part that sits there.