How to greet elders and address people correctly in China
In China, greeting elders and addressing people correctly is important and done with respect and politeness. When greeting elders, it is customary to use the respectful form of “hello,” which is “您好” (nín hǎo) instead of the more casual “你好” (nǐ hǎo). A soft handshake with a smile is common, and a slight nod or polite posture is appreciated. When addressing someone, use their family name followed by an honorific title such as “先生” (xiānsheng, Mr.) for men or “女士” (nǚshì, Ms.) for women. For elders or those older than you, you can add kinship titles like “叔叔” (shūshu, uncle) or “阿姨” (āyí, auntie) before the first name if appropriate. In formal or seniority contexts, address elders first and show deference.
Additionally, it is important to use family name first followed by given name when addressing someone (e.g., Mr. Yao for Yao Ming). For professionals or people with higher status, titles such as “老师” (lǎoshī, teacher), “医生” (yīshēng, doctor), or position titles like “经理” (jīnglǐ, manager) can be used with their surname.
Summary of correct greetings and address in China:
- Elders: Use “您好” (nín hǎo) with a soft handshake and a slight nod.
- Address using family name + honorific (e.g., 王先生 Wáng xiānsheng, Mr. Wang).
- For elders, kinship terms before names (e.g., 阿姨 Betty, Uncle Tony) are polite.
- Use professional or position titles with family name for respect.
- Casual greeting for peers or younger people: “你好” (nǐ hǎo).
- When greeting groups, use “你们好” (nǐmen hǎo) or “大家好” (dàjiā hǎo).
These manners show respect, good etiquette, and cultural understanding in China. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8