Do you ever find yourself in conversations with Chinese speakers, where you’re able to start with a simple “nǐ hǎo 你好” (hello) but struggle to maintain the flow, resulting in awkward silences? Or maybe you’re uncertain about responding when someone shares their experiences, leaving you feeling puzzled. Surprisingly, all these scenarios fall under the umbrella of “hán xuān 寒暄” (small talk). Today, I’ll introduce common topics and useful phrases for Chinese small talk, along with some insights into the small talk culture. For a more in-depth understanding, you can also explore our Chinese Culture Lessons.
What is “small talk” in Chinese:
Let’s start with the Chinese equivalent of small talk – “hán xuān (寒暄)” . “Hán (寒)” refers to coldness, while “xuān (暄)” means warmth, indicating inquiries about each other’s well-being. Originally, it referred to exchanging pleasantries about the weather when meeting socially, but it has since expanded to cover various topics, becoming a form of social etiquette that sincerely greets others and enhances relationships.
Common topics and useful phrases:
Here are a few common topics and phrases suitable for various situations, helping you to respond warmly and politely no matter where you are.
Greetings:
Nǐ hǎo!
1.你好！
Hello!
Zhēn qiǎo, zài zhè pèngdào nǐ!
2. 真巧，在这碰到你！
What a coincidence to meet you here!
Hǎo jiǔ bùjiàn, zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?
3. 好久不见，最近怎么样？
Long time no see, how have you been lately?
Zuìjìn máng ma? / Zuìjìn zài máng xiē shénme ne?
1.最近忙吗？/最近在忙些什么呢？
Have you been busy lately? / What have you been busy with recently?
Zhōumò guò de zěnme yàng?
2. 周末过的怎么样？
How was your weekend?
Zuìjìn xuéxiào/gōngzuò shùnlì ma?
3. 最近学校/工作顺利吗？
Is everything going smoothly with school/work lately?
Weather:
Weather might not be the most exciting topic, but it’s a safe choice. With a little expansion, it can lead to further discussion.
Jīntiān tiānqì zhēn bùcuò, shìhé qù sànbù.
1. 今天天气真不错，适合去散步。
The weather is nice today, perfect for a stroll.
Jīntiān yòu xiàyǔ, wǒ zhǐnéng zài jiā kànkan jùle.
2. 今天又下雨，我只能在家看看剧了。
It’s raining again today, looks like I’ll be staying in and watching dramas.
Jīntiān kě zhēn lěng, nǐ zěnme chuān zhème shǎo?
3. 今天可真冷，你怎么穿这么少？
It’s really cold today, why are you dressed so lightly?
Food:
At work or when having a meal with friends, you can engage in small talk like this.
Nǐ (men) chī de shì shénme ya?
1. 你（们）吃的是什么呀？
What are you eating?
Nǐmen chīguò… (cān tīng) ma?
2. 你们·吃过… （餐厅)吗?
Have you ever eaten at… (restaurant)?
Wǒ bǐjiào xǐhuān chī là, yǒu shénme tuījiàn de cài ma?
3. 我比较喜欢吃辣，有什么推荐的菜吗？
I like spicy food, any recommendations?
Hometown:
Bringing up your hometown during introductions is a good start, as it can lead to discussions about its characteristics and other topics.
Wǒ láizì…, nǐ ne?
1. 我来自…，你呢？
I’m from…, how about you?
Wǒmen nàli tiānqì hěn wēnnuǎn, hěn shìhé lǚyóu de.
2. 我们那里天气很温暖，很适合旅游的。
The weather in our hometown is warm, perfect for tourism.
Wǒmen nàli yǒu… (jǐngdiǎn, wénhuà huódòng…), nǐ tīngshuōguo ma?
3. 我们那里有…（景点、文化活动….)，你听说过吗？
We have… (attractions, cultural activities) in our hometown, have you heard of them?
Outfit:
You can always use this small talk as a compliment whenever you meet.
Nǐ jīntiān kàn qǐlái qìsè hěn hǎo, zhè tiáo qúnzi hěn chèn nǐ!
1. 你今天看起来气色很好，这条裙子很衬你！
You look great today, that dress suits you!
Nǐ zhè jiàn wàitào zhēn de hěn bǎidā, nǐ zài nǎlǐ mǎi de?
2. 你这件外套真的很百搭，你在哪里买的？
Your coat is really versatile, where did you get it?
Nǐ zhè jiàn yīfu mán bùcuò de, nǐ chuānzhe hěn yǒu xíng!
3. 你这件衣服蛮不错的，你穿着很有型！
That’s a nice outfit, you look stylish!
Travel:
Many Chinese people travel during holidays, and depending on the destination, the travel topic can expand to include culture, history, art, and more.
Nǐ qùguo Dōngběi ma, nàli hǎowán ma?
1. 你去过东北吗，那里好玩吗？
Have you been to the Northeast? Is it fun there?
Nǐ qùguo zhèlǐ de bówùguǎn ma? Wǒ tǐng xiǎng qù cānguān de.
2. 你去过这里的博物馆吗？我挺想去参观的。
Have you visited the museum here? I really want to go and visit.
So, how do you respond in Chinese when engaged in small talk? Here are some common Chinese replies.
When you agree with someone:
Ǹg ǹg
1.嗯嗯
Uh-huh.
Shì de
2.是的
Yes.
Wǒ yěshì
3.我也是
Me too.
Méi cuò
4.没错
That’s right.
When you want to encourage someone to continue:
Zhēn de ma?
1.真的吗？
Really？
Wèishénme?
2.为什么？
Why?
Zěnme huì?
3.怎么会？
How come?
Nà zěnme bàn?
4.那怎么办？
What should we do then?Hòulái ne?
Hòulái ne?
5.后来呢？
What happened next?
Yuánlái shì zhèyàng!
6.原来是这样！
So that’s how it is!
When someone mentions something happy:
Wā, nà hěn hǎo!
1.哇，那很好！
Wow, that’s great!
Tài bàngle!
2.太棒了！
Fantastic!
Tài lìhàile!
3.太厉害了！
That’s amazing!
When someone mentions something sad:
Tiān nà, zěnme huì zhèyàng, zhēn de tài zāogāole.
1. 天呐，怎么会这样，真的太糟糕了。
Oh no, that’s terrible.
Wǒ wánquán néng lǐjiě nǐ de xīnqíng.
2.我完全能理解你的心情。
I completely understand how you feel.
Màn màn lái, yīqiè dōu huì hǎo qǐlái de.
3.慢慢来，一切都会好起来的。
Take it easy, everything will get better.
That’s all there is to it. Mastering these simple sentence structures will equip you to seamlessly engage in small talk with anyone you meet. However, applying these phrases in practice can be more nuanced, especially when considering cultural differences. If you’re eager to deepen your understanding of everyday expressions or discuss specific topics in real-life conversations, you can take the next step by signing up for a free trial lesson. Click here to get started. Our experienced teachers are ready to provide scenarios that will not only enhance your comprehension but also sharpen your small talk skills.
