In 15 Seconds
- The standard way to introduce yourself to anyone new.
- Combines 'Hello' (Nǐ hǎo) with 'I am' (wǒ shì).
- Works in person, over the phone, or via text.
Meaning
This is the universal 'starter kit' for introducing yourself in Chinese. It is the most common way to say 'Hello, I am...' followed by your name.
Key Examples
3 of 6Meeting a new neighbor
你好，我是你的新邻居。
Hello, I am your new neighbor.
Checking in at a hotel
你好，我是 John Smith，我有预订。
Hello, I am John Smith, I have a reservation.
Texting a new contact on WeChat
你好，我是昨天在书店认识的那个朋友。
Hello, I'm the friend you met at the bookstore yesterday.
Cultural Background
Using 'shì' is professional. In casual settings, people often use 'jiào'. Similar to the mainland, but 'nín hǎo' is used more frequently in service industries. Always present your business card with both hands after introducing yourself.
Tone Change
When two 3rd tones are together, the first one becomes a 2nd tone. So 'nǐ hǎo' sounds like 'ní hǎo'.
Don't over-explain
Keep it short. Just your name or role is enough.
In 15 Seconds
- The standard way to introduce yourself to anyone new.
- Combines 'Hello' (Nǐ hǎo) with 'I am' (wǒ shì).
- Works in person, over the phone, or via text.
What It Means
你好，我是... (Nǐ hǎo, wǒ shì...) is your linguistic handshake. It combines the standard greeting 你好 (Hello) with the identity marker 我是 (I am). It is the most direct way to tell someone who you are. Think of it as the 'Open Sesame' for starting any conversation in China.
How To Use It
Just drop your name right after the 是. If your name is David, say 你好，我是 David. You can use your English name or your Chinese name. It works perfectly for both. It is simple, punchy, and impossible to mess up. Just remember to smile while saying it!
When To Use It
Use this in almost any first-meeting scenario. Use it when meeting a new colleague at the office. Use it when introduced to a friend's cousin at a hotpot dinner. It is perfect for checking in at a hotel or a restaurant reservation. It also works great for the first line of an email or a WeChat message.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this with your best friends or your mom. They already know who you are! If you use it with people you know well, they might think you've lost your memory. Also, in extremely formal settings like meeting a CEO, you might want something even more polite. But for 95% of life, this is your gold standard.
Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, names carry a lot of weight. However, modern China is very fast-paced. This phrase has become the go-to because it is efficient. Historically, people used more complex titles. Today, 你好，我是... levels the playing field. It shows you are approachable and ready to connect. It’s the sound of a new friendship beginning.
Common Variations
If you want to sound more formal, swap 你 (nǐ) for 您 (nín). This becomes 您好，我是.... If you are on a phone call, you might start with 喂 (wéi) instead of 你好. Some people also add their job title after their name. For example, 我是 David 老师 (I am Teacher David). This adds a bit of context to your identity.
Usage Notes
This phrase is incredibly versatile and sits right in the middle of the formality scale. It's safe for 99% of interactions.
Tone Change
When two 3rd tones are together, the first one becomes a 2nd tone. So 'nǐ hǎo' sounds like 'ní hǎo'.
Don't over-explain
Keep it short. Just your name or role is enough.
Smile
A smile is universal and makes your introduction much more effective.
Examples
6你好，我是你的新邻居。
Hello, I am your new neighbor.
Adding a description after 'I am' helps provide context.
你好，我是 John Smith，我有预订。
Hello, I am John Smith, I have a reservation.
A clear way to identify yourself for business transactions.
你好，我是昨天在书店认识的那个朋友。
Hello, I'm the friend you met at the bookstore yesterday.
Great for refreshing someone's memory via text.
您好，我是王经理。
Hello (formal), I am Manager Wang.
Using 'nín' and a title makes this very professional.
你好，我是这里的派对之王！
Hello, I am the party king here!
A playful way to use the structure to make a joke.
你好，我是小明，你还记得我吗？
Hello, I'm Xiao Ming, do you still remember me?
Used when you're worried the person might have forgotten you.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing verb.
你好，我___大卫。
Use 'shì' to equate yourself with your name.
Which is correct?
A) 你好，我叫是王。 B) 你好，我是王。
Don't combine 'jiào' and 'shì'.
Match the greeting to the context.
Match '你好' with 'Hello'.
Basic vocabulary check.
Complete the intro.
A: 你好！ B: _____
Standard response to a greeting.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercises你好，我___大卫。
Use 'shì' to equate yourself with your name.
A) 你好，我叫是王。 B) 你好，我是王。
Don't combine 'jiào' and 'shì'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Basic vocabulary check.
A: 你好！ B: _____
Standard response to a greeting.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes, it works for full names or just first names.
No, it is neutral and polite.
It's the 3rd tone sandhi rule.
Yes, '我是老师' (I am a teacher) is perfect.
Just say '你好' and smile.
Yes, in emails or messages.
Yes, it's very common.
They are both great, 'jiào' is slightly more natural for names.
Related Phrases
我叫...
synonymI am called...
您好
builds onHello (polite)
很高兴认识你
builds onNice to meet you
