If you make it a habit to use the following short Chinese phrases whenever you get the chance, you can master them in no time. You’ll also shock everyone around you — especially if they don’t speak Chinese. It doesn’t matter. You know what you’re saying, at least. So the next time you meet up with a Chinese waiter or take your clothes to a Chinese laundry down the block, you can impress the heck out of everyone. Try these phrases:
Ni hao! (nee how; Hi; How are you?) Xiexie. (shyeh shyeh; Thank you.) Bu keqi. (boo kuh chee; You’re welcome; Don’t mention it.) Mei shi. (may shir; It’s nothing; Don’t mention it.) Hao jile. (how jee luh; Great; Fantastic.) Dui le. (dway luh; That’s right.) G.ngxi g.ngxi! (goong she goong she; Congratulations!) Duibuqi. (dway boo chee; Excuse me.) Suan le. (swan luh; Forget it; Nevermind.) Meiyou gu.nxi. (mayo gwan she; It doesn’t matter.) Deng yixia. (dung ee shyah; Wait a minute.)
