A first meeting is kind of like a tiny bridge. Your child doesn’t need big vocabulary to cross it—just a few warm, friendly phrases that feel easy to say.
That’s why “Nice to meet you” in Chinese is such a powerful starter skill. It’s not only polite, it also opens the door to the next sentence: “What’s your name?” “Want to play?” “Can I sit here?”
In this listicle, you’ll get 100 kid-friendly Chinese phrases for school, playgrounds, and playdates—organized so you can practice in small chunks (instead of memorizing a giant list in one day).
Along the way, we’ll also cover:
the most natural ways to say “nice to meet you” in Chinese
what to say back when someone says it to you
quick “first day of school” mini scripts kids can copy
gentle, polite phrases for sharing, joining games, and making friends
Let’s jump in.
The 3 most common ways to say “Nice to meet you” in Chinese
Kids can absolutely start with one phrase and build from there.
The core phrases (super practical)
English | Chinese | Pinyin | When to use |
Nice to meet you | 很高兴认识你 | hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ | First time meeting someone |
Nice to see you | 很高兴见到你 | hěn gāoxìng jiàndào nǐ | First meeting OR seeing someone again |
Pleased to meet you (more formal) | 幸会 / 幸会幸会 | xìnghuì / xìnghuì xìnghuì | More polite/formal situations |
Quick parent note: If you want a simple rule:
认识你 = first time “meeting you as a person”
见到你 = “seeing you” (works even after you already know them)
Before the big list: 10 “starter phrases” every kid can learn first
If your child is new to Chinese, start here. These ten lines carry a LOT of social power.
# | English | Chinese | Pinyin |
1 | Hi! | 你好！ | nǐ hǎo |
2 | Hello (polite) | 您好！ | nín hǎo |
3 | Nice to meet you | 很高兴认识你 | hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ |
4 | Nice to see you | 很高兴见到你 | hěn gāoxìng jiàndào nǐ |
5 | My name is… | 我叫… | wǒ jiào… |
6 | What’s your name? | 你叫什么名字？ | nǐ jiào shénme míngzi? |
7 | I’m ___ years old | 我___岁 | wǒ ___ suì |
8 | Thank you | 谢谢 | xièxie |
9 | You’re welcome | 不客气 | bú kèqi |
10 | Bye! | 再见！ | zàijiàn |
The Big List: 100 Friendly Chinese Phrases for Kids
Below are 100 phrases grouped by situation, so you can practice in mini “packs” (school pack, playdate pack, sharing pack, etc.).
Pack A: “Nice to meet you” + easy replies (1–15)
# | English | Chinese | Pinyin |
1 | Nice to meet you | 很高兴认识你 | hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ |
2 | Nice to see you | 很高兴见到你 | hěn gāoxìng jiàndào nǐ |
3 | Me too! | 我也是！ | wǒ yě shì |
4 | I’m happy to meet you | 认识你我很开心 | rènshi nǐ wǒ hěn kāixīn |
5 | Welcome! | 欢迎！ | huānyíng |
6 | Glad you came | 你来了真好 | nǐ lái le zhēn hǎo |
7 | Long time no see | 好久不见！ | hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn |
8 | How are you? | 你好吗？ | nǐ hǎo ma |
9 | I’m good | 我很好 | wǒ hěn hǎo |
10 | And you? | 你呢？ | nǐ ne |
11 | What’s your name? | 你叫什么名字？ | nǐ jiào shénme míngzi |
12 | My name is… | 我叫… | wǒ jiào… |
13 | You can call me… | 你可以叫我… | nǐ kěyǐ jiào wǒ… |
14 | I’m ___ years old | 我___岁 | wǒ ___ suì |
15 | Let’s be friends | 我们做朋友吧！ | wǒmen zuò péngyou ba |
Tip: “Let’s be friends” sounds adorable in Chinese—and kids love it.
Pack B: First day of school phrases (16–35)
# | English | Chinese | Pinyin |
16 | I’m new here | 我是新来的 | wǒ shì xīn lái de |
17 | This is my first day | 今天是我第一天 | jīntiān shì wǒ dì-yī tiān |
18 | Which class are you in? | 你在哪个班？ | nǐ zài nǎge bān |
19 | I’m in Class ___ | 我在___班 | wǒ zài ___ bān |
20 | I’m in grade ___ | 我在___年级 | wǒ zài ___ niánjí |
21 | Can I sit here? | 我可以坐这儿吗？ | wǒ kěyǐ zuò zhèr ma |
22 | Yes, of course | 可以呀！ | kěyǐ ya |
23 | No problem | 没问题 | méi wèntí |
24 | Let’s sit together | 我们一起坐吧 | wǒmen yìqǐ zuò ba |
25 | What’s this called? | 这个叫什么？ | zhège jiào shénme |
26 | I don’t understand | 我不太懂 | wǒ bú tài dǒng |
27 | Can you help me? | 你能帮我吗？ | nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma |
28 | I can help you | 我可以帮你 | wǒ kěyǐ bāng nǐ |
29 | Let’s go to class | 我们去上课吧 | wǒmen qù shàngkè ba |
30 | The teacher is coming | 老师来了 | lǎoshī lái le |
31 | Good morning, teacher | 老师早上好 | lǎoshī zǎoshang hǎo |
32 | Good afternoon, teacher | 老师下午好 | lǎoshī xiàwǔ hǎo |
33 | Please say it again | 请再说一遍 | qǐng zài shuō yí biàn |
34 | I’m sorry | 对不起 | duìbuqǐ |
35 | It’s okay | 没关系 | méi guānxi |
Pack C: Playground & playdate invitations (36–60)
# | English | Chinese | Pinyin |
36 | Want to play? | 你想玩吗？ | nǐ xiǎng wán ma |
37 | Let’s play together | 我们一起玩吧 | wǒmen yìqǐ wán ba |
38 | Can I join? | 我可以加入吗？ | wǒ kěyǐ jiārù ma |
39 | Sure! | 当然可以！ | dāngrán kěyǐ |
40 | Let’s take turns | 我们轮流吧 | wǒmen lúnliú ba |
41 | Your turn | 轮到你了 | lún dào nǐ le |
42 | My turn | 轮到我了 | lún dào wǒ le |
43 | Let’s share | 我们一起分享吧 | wǒmen yìqǐ fēnxiǎng ba |
44 | Do you want this? | 你要这个吗？ | nǐ yào zhège ma |
45 | Here you go | 给你 | gěi nǐ |
46 | Thank you | 谢谢 | xièxie |
47 | You’re welcome | 不客气 | bú kèqi |
48 | What game is this? | 这是什么游戏？ | zhè shì shénme yóuxì |
49 | Let’s play tag | 我们玩捉迷藏吧 | wǒmen wán zhuōmícáng ba |
50 | Let’s play ball | 我们玩球吧 | wǒmen wán qiú ba |
51 | Do you like soccer? | 你喜欢足球吗？ | nǐ xǐhuan zúqiú ma |
52 | I like it! | 我喜欢！ | wǒ xǐhuan |
53 | I don’t like it | 我不太喜欢 | wǒ bú tài xǐhuan |
54 | It’s fun! | 好好玩！ | hǎo hǎo wán |
55 | Be careful! | 小心！ | xiǎoxīn |
56 | Are you okay? | 你没事吧？ | nǐ méi shì ba |
57 | I’m okay | 我没事 | wǒ méi shì |
58 | Let’s go! | 我们走吧！ | wǒmen zǒu ba |
59 | Let’s go home | 我们回家吧 | wǒmen huíjiā ba |
60 | See you next time | 下次见！ | xiàcì jiàn |
Pack D: Friendly small talk kids actually use (61–80)
# | English | Chinese | Pinyin |
61 | How old are you? | 你几岁？ | nǐ jǐ suì |
62 | I’m ___ | 我___岁 | wǒ ___ suì |
63 | Where are you from? | 你从哪儿来？ | nǐ cóng nǎr lái |
64 | I’m from… | 我从…来 | wǒ cóng… lái |
65 | Do you like dogs? | 你喜欢狗吗？ | nǐ xǐhuan gǒu ma |
66 | Do you like cats? | 你喜欢猫吗？ | nǐ xǐhuan māo ma |
67 | What’s your favorite color? | 你最喜欢什么颜色？ | nǐ zuì xǐhuan shénme yánsè |
68 | My favorite color is… | 我最喜欢… | wǒ zuì xǐhuan… |
69 | What’s your favorite food? | 你最喜欢吃什么？ | nǐ zuì xǐhuan chī shénme |
70 | I like noodles | 我喜欢面条 | wǒ xǐhuan miàntiáo |
71 | I like dumplings | 我喜欢饺子 | wǒ xǐhuan jiǎozi |
72 | Do you like school? | 你喜欢学校吗？ | nǐ xǐhuan xuéxiào ma |
73 | It’s okay | 还可以 | hái kěyǐ |
74 | It’s fun | 很好玩 | hěn hǎowán |
75 | I’m tired | 我累了 | wǒ lèi le |
76 | I’m hungry | 我饿了 | wǒ è le |
77 | I’m thirsty | 我渴了 | wǒ kě le |
78 | Let’s have a snack | 我们吃点东西吧 | wǒmen chī diǎn dōngxi ba |
79 | Let’s draw | 我们画画吧 | wǒmen huàhuà ba |
80 | Let’s read together | 我们一起读书吧 | wǒmen yìqǐ dúshū ba |
Pack E: Polite classroom phrases (81–95)
# | English | Chinese | Pinyin |
81 | May I go to the bathroom? | 我可以去厕所吗？ | wǒ kěyǐ qù cèsuǒ ma |
82 | Please | 请 | qǐng |
83 | Thank you, teacher | 谢谢老师 | xièxie lǎoshī |
84 | I finished | 我写完了 | wǒ xiě wán le |
85 | I don’t know | 我不知道 | wǒ bù zhīdào |
86 | I forgot | 我忘了 | wǒ wàng le |
87 | Can you teach me? | 你能教我吗？ | nǐ néng jiāo wǒ ma |
88 | Let’s do homework | 我们写作业吧 | wǒmen xiě zuòyè ba |
89 | I need a pencil | 我需要一支铅笔 | wǒ xūyào yì zhī qiānbǐ |
90 | Can I borrow this? | 我可以借一下吗？ | wǒ kěyǐ jiè yíxià ma |
91 | Here you go | 给你 | gěi nǐ |
92 | Sorry | 对不起 | duìbuqǐ |
93 | It’s okay | 没关系 | méi guānxi |
94 | Great job! | 你真棒！ | nǐ zhēn bàng |
95 | Let’s try again | 我们再试一次 | wǒmen zài shì yí cì |
Pack F: Goodbye + staying friends (96–100)
# | English | Chinese | Pinyin |
96 | Bye! | 再见！ | zàijiàn |
97 | See you tomorrow | 明天见！ | míngtiān jiàn |
98 | See you later | 一会儿见！ | yíhuìr jiàn |
99 | Have a good day | 祝你今天开心 | zhù nǐ jīntiān kāixīn |
100 | Let’s play again next time | 下次我们再一起玩 | xiàcì wǒmen zài yìqǐ wán |
✅ That’s 100 friendly, kid-ready phrases.
Mini scripts kids can copy (so it feels easy, not scary)
Script 1: First day of school
Kid A: 你好！我叫 Emma。 (Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ jiào Emma.) Kid B: 你好！很高兴认识你！ (Nǐ hǎo! Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ!) Kid A: 我也是！你叫什么名字？ (Wǒ yě shì! Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?)
Script 2: Playground / playdate
Kid A: 你想玩吗？ (Nǐ xiǎng wán ma?) Kid B: 想！我们一起玩吧！ (Xiǎng! Wǒmen yìqǐ wán ba!) Kid A: 太好了！ (Tài hǎo le!)
The “don’t sound like a textbook” tip (parents love this)
Some guides teach kids very formal lines like “初次见面请多关照,” which exists, but it’s not what most kids naturally say in daily school life. For children, simple + warm almost always wins:
你好
我叫…
很高兴认识你
我们一起玩吧
That’s real-life Chinese.
At some point, parents notice something funny: kids can memorize a phrase list quickly… but using it smoothly in real conversation is a different skill.
And the most memorable Chinese isn’t always “textbook Chinese.” It’s the little natural lines kids hear in real life—what classmates say, what teachers say, what friends say on a playdate.
If your child wants to learn more Chinese they won’t get from a standard textbook, come try a class with LingoAce. With friendly native teachers, real speaking practice, and culture built into lessons, kids start using phrases like these naturally—without forcing it.
