"Ni hao ma" (你好吗) is a common Mandarin Chinese phrase used to ask someone how they are. Here’s a breakdown of the phrase:
Ni (你): This means "you." It is the pronoun used to address the person you are speaking to.
Hao (好): This means "good" or "well." It expresses a positive state or condition.
- Ma (吗): This is a question particle that is used at the end of a statement to turn it into a yes/no question.
So, when you put it all together, "Ni hao ma" literally translates to "Are you good?" or "How are you?" It is a polite way to inquire about someone’s well-being.
In response, one might say "我很好, 谢谢" (Wǒ hěn hǎo, xièxiè), which means "I am very good, thank you."
This phrase is particularly useful in casual conversation and is often one of the first phrases learned by those studying Mandarin.