Meeting New People
beginner认识新朋友
Everything you need to introduce yourself, make small talk, and exchange contact information when meeting new people in China.
36 words12 phrases2 dialogues~25 min study time
Vocabulary
36 words — click any row for an example sentence
Introduction
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 自我介绍 | zìwǒ jièshào | self-introduction | noun |
| 名字 | míngzi | name | noun |
| 来自 | láizì | to come from / to be from | verb |
| 工作 | gōngzuò | work / job | noun |
| 认识 | rènshi | to know (a person) / to meet | verb |
| 介绍 | jièshào | to introduce | verb |
| 姓 | xìng | surname / to be surnamed | verb |
| 朋友 | péngyou | friend | noun |
| 国家 | guójiā | country / nation | noun |
| 爱好 | àihào | hobby / interest | noun |
| 请教 | qǐngjiào | to ask for advice / to consult | verb |
Small Talk
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 哪里人 | nǎlǐ rén | where someone is from | phrase |
| 多久 | duō jiǔ | how long | adverb |
| 习惯 | xíguàn | to be used to / habit | verb |
| 哪里哪里 | nǎlǐ nǎlǐ | not at all (polite denial of a compliment) | phrase |
| 过奖 | guòjiǎng | you flatter me / you are too kind | verb |
| 喜欢 | xǐhuān | to like | verb |
| 聊天 | liáotiān | to chat | verb |
| 第一次 | dì yī cì | the first time | phrase |
| 有意思 | yǒu yìsi | interesting | adjective |
| 老家 | lǎojiā | hometown / ancestral home | noun |
| 厉害 | lìhai | awesome / impressive | adjective |
Contact Exchange
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 微信 | Wēixìn | noun | |
| 手机号 | shǒujī hào | phone number | noun |
| 加好友 | jiā hǎoyǒu | to add as a friend (on social media) | verb |
| 扫一下 | sǎo yīxià | to scan (a QR code) | verb |
| 二维码 | èrwéimǎ | QR code | noun |
| 联系方式 | liánxì fāngshì | contact information | noun |
| 保持联系 | bǎochí liánxì | to keep in touch | verb |
| 手机 | shǒujī | mobile phone | noun |
| 微信号 | Wēixìn hào | WeChat ID | noun |
| 朋友圈 | péngyouquān | Moments (WeChat social feed) | noun |
| 名片 | míngpiàn | business card | noun |
| 群 | qún | group chat | noun |
| 通过 | tōngguò | to accept / to pass / through | verb |
| 备注 | bèizhù | remark / note (e.g., contact nickname) | noun |
Key Phrases
Essential expressions
你好，我叫……，认识你很高兴。
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào..., rènshi nǐ hěn gāoxìng.
Hello, my name is... Nice to meet you.
The most basic self-introduction formula.
你是哪里人？
Nǐ shì nǎlǐ rén?
Where are you from?
A very common opening question when meeting someone new.
你来中国多久了？
Nǐ lái Zhōngguó duō jiǔ le?
How long have you been in China?
A common question Chinese people ask foreigners.
你的中文说得真好！
Nǐ de zhōngwén shuō de zhēn hǎo!
Your Chinese is really good!
A compliment frequently given to foreign Chinese speakers, even beginners.
哪里哪里，还差得远呢。
Nǎlǐ nǎlǐ, hái chà de yuǎn ne.
Not at all, I still have a long way to go.
The polite way to deflect a compliment in Chinese culture.
我们加个微信吧！
Wǒmen jiā ge Wēixìn ba!
Let us add each other on WeChat!
The standard way to exchange contact information in China.
你扫我还是我扫你？
Nǐ sǎo wǒ háishi wǒ sǎo nǐ?
Should you scan me or should I scan you?
When exchanging WeChat contacts, deciding who scans whose QR code.
你做什么工作的？
Nǐ zuò shénme gōngzuò de?
What do you do for a living?
A common question during introductions.
很高兴认识你，以后多联系。
Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ, yǐhòu duō liánxì.
Nice to meet you. Let us keep in touch.
A polite way to wrap up a first meeting.
你在中国习惯了吗？
Nǐ zài Zhōngguó xíguàn le ma?
Are you used to being in China?
Showing concern for a foreigner adjusting to life in China.
你是怎么学中文的？
Nǐ shì zěnme xué zhōngwén de?
How did you learn Chinese?
A question often asked when someone speaks Chinese well.
我给你介绍一下我的朋友。
Wǒ gěi nǐ jièshào yīxià wǒ de péngyou.
Let me introduce my friend to you.
Introducing a friend to someone you know.
Dialogues
Practice conversations
Meeting at a Social Event
Xiǎo Lǐ, a Chinese person, meets David, a foreigner, at a friend's birthday party.
Speaker A
你好！我叫小李，是小王的大学同学。你也是小王的朋友吗？
Speaker B
你好小李！我叫David，是小王的同事。认识你很高兴！
Speaker A
你的中文说得真好！你是哪里人？来中国多久了？
Speaker B
哪里哪里，还差得远呢。我来自英国，来北京快两年了。
Speaker A
两年了？那你一定习惯这边的生活了吧。你在这边做什么工作？
Speaker B
我在一家科技公司工作，是做软件开发的。你呢？
Speaker A
我是老师，在一所中学教英语。对了，我们加个微信吧，以后可以一起出来玩！
Speaker B
好啊！你扫我还是我扫你？
Cultural note: In China, meeting new people at social gatherings almost always leads to exchanging WeChat contacts rather than phone numbers. The phrase "加个微信吧" (let us add each other on WeChat) has become one of the most common social phrases in modern China.
Being Introduced by a Mutual Friend
Xiǎo Wáng introduces two friends who do not know each other at a coffee shop.
Speaker A
来来来，我给你们介绍一下。这位是小美，我的高中同学。这位是老陈，我的邻居。
Speaker B
你好老陈，认识你很高兴！听小王经常提到你。
Speaker A
你好小美！你也是在这边工作吗？
Speaker B
对，我在附近的一家医院上班。你是做什么的？
Speaker A
我自己开了一家小公司，做进出口贸易的。
Speaker B
厉害！你们加一下微信吧，以后我们可以约出来一起吃饭。
Speaker A
好主意！小美，你扫一下我的二维码吧。
Speaker B
好的，加上了！我给你加个备注，"小王的邻居老陈"。
Cultural note: Being introduced through a mutual friend is the most common and preferred way to expand social circles in China. The Chinese concept of "关系" (guānxi, relationships/connections) means that having a mutual connection instantly creates a foundation of trust. It is also very common to add a 备注 (bèizhù, remark/note) to new WeChat contacts to remember how you know them.
Cultural Notes
Context that textbooks miss
Test Yourself
7 questions covering vocabulary, phrases, and dialogue comprehension.
Take the Meeting New People Quiz (7 questions)→HSK Level Overlap
24 of 36 words appear in HSK levels
Further Reading
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