xiàwǔ hǎo: 下午好 - Good Afternoon

• Keywords: 下午好, xiàwǔ hǎo, good afternoon in Chinese, how to say good afternoon in Mandarin, Chinese greetings, afternoon greeting Chinese, xià wǔ hǎo meaning, formal Chinese greetings, HSK 1 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn how to say “Good afternoon” in Mandarin Chinese with “下午好” (xiàwǔ hǎo). This entry provides a complete guide for beginners, covering its meaning, character breakdown, cultural context, and practical usage. Discover when to use this polite and common greeting, how it compares to other Chinese greetings like “你好” (nǐ hǎo), and see 10 practical example sentences to master its use in real conversations.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xiàwǔ hǎo
• Part of Speech: Interjection / Greeting phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: A standard and polite greeting used to say “Good afternoon.”
• In a Nutshell: “下午好” is the direct and universally understood way to greet someone in the afternoon in the Mandarin-speaking world. It's typically used between 1 PM and 5 PM. It carries a slightly formal and respectful tone, making it perfect for addressing teachers, colleagues, elders, or service staff. While correct in any situation, close friends might opt for more casual greetings.

• 下 (xià): This character's primary meaning is “down,” “below,” or “under.” In the context of time, it signifies the second or latter part of something. Think of the sun being on its way down from its noontime peak.
• 午 (wǔ): This character means “noon” or the period from 11 AM to 1 PM.
• 好 (hǎo): This character means “good” or “well.” It is famously composed of the radicals for “woman” (女) and “child” (子), a combination traditionally seen as auspicious and “good.”

When combined, 下午 (xiàwǔ) literally means “down from noon,” which is the perfect description for “afternoon.” Adding 好 (hǎo) turns it into a polite greeting: “Afternoon good,” or as we say in English, “Good afternoon.”

Using time-specific greetings like “下午好” is a common sign of politeness and social awareness in Chinese culture. While “你好” (nǐ hǎo) is a universal “hello,” taking a moment to use the correct greeting for the time of day shows a greater level of attentiveness and respect. In Western cultures, especially American culture, “Good afternoon” can sometimes sound quite formal and is often replaced by a simple “Hi” or “Hello” in most daily interactions. In China, while casual greetings are also common among friends, “下午好” strikes a perfect balance. It is not considered overly formal for daily use in situations like greeting a shopkeeper, a security guard, or a colleague you pass in the hall. It's a small but significant gesture that helps maintain a harmonious and respectful social atmosphere. It reflects a culture where acknowledging the specific context of an interaction, including the time of day, is valued.

• Formality: Neutral to slightly formal. It's a safe and polite choice in almost any situation.
• Contexts:
  • Professional Settings: The standard greeting when entering an office, starting a meeting, or sending an email in the afternoon. (e.g., “李总，下午好” - President Li, good afternoon).
  • Service Encounters: Used when greeting customers in a shop, bank, or hotel, and likewise for a customer to greet the staff.
  • Academic Life: The appropriate way for a student to greet a teacher in the afternoon.
  • Formal Events: Used by speakers to address an audience at an afternoon conference or event.
• Informal Usage: Among close friends and family, it can sound a bit stiff. In these cases, you are more likely to hear “嗨” (hāi), “嘿” (hēi), or simply the person's name as a greeting.

• Example 1:
  • 王老师，下午好！
  • Pinyin: Wáng lǎoshī, xiàwǔ hǎo!
  • English: Teacher Wang, good afternoon!
  • Analysis: A classic and respectful way for a student to greet their teacher. Using the person's title (老师) followed by the greeting is very common and polite.
• Example 2:
  • 各位同事，下午好。我们现在开会。
  • Pinyin: Gèwèi tóngshì, xiàwǔ hǎo. Wǒmen xiànzài kāihuì.
  • English: Good afternoon, everyone. Let's start the meeting now.
  • Analysis: This is a formal and efficient way to begin a business meeting in the afternoon. “各位” (gèwèi) is a polite way to say “everybody” or “everyone” in a formal context.
• Example 3:
  • 下午好，请问有什么可以帮您？
  • Pinyin: Xiàwǔ hǎo, qǐngwèn yǒu shénme kěyǐ bāng nín?
  • English: Good afternoon, may I ask what I can help you with?
  • Analysis: A very common phrase used by receptionists, customer service staff, or shopkeepers. Note the use of “您” (nín), the formal “you.”
• Example 4:
  • A: 下午好！ B: 嗯，下午好。
  • Pinyin: A: Xiàwǔ hǎo! B: Èn, xiàwǔ hǎo.
  • English: A: Good afternoon! B: Yes, good afternoon.
  • Analysis: This shows a simple exchange. The response can be a simple repetition of the greeting, sometimes preceded by a sound of acknowledgement like “嗯” (èn).
• Example 5:
  • 下午好，我预订了一间房。
  • Pinyin: Xiàwǔ hǎo, wǒ yùdìngle yī jiàn fáng.
  • English: Good afternoon, I have a room reservation.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence for a traveler checking into a hotel in the afternoon.
• Example 6:
  • （邮件主题）下午好，关于下周的项目计划。
  • Pinyin: (Yóujiàn zhǔtí) Xiàwǔ hǎo, guānyú xià zhōu de xiàngmù jìhuà.
  • English: (Email Subject) Good afternoon, regarding next week's project plan.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates its use in written communication, like the opening of a professional email.
• Example 7:
  • 下午好，张阿姨。您去散步吗？
  • Pinyin: Xiàwǔ hǎo, Zhāng āyí. Nín qù sànbù ma?
  • English: Good afternoon, Auntie Zhang. Are you going for a walk?
  • Analysis: A friendly and respectful way to greet an older neighbor. “阿姨” (āyí) is a polite term for a woman of your parents' generation.
• Example 8:
  • 观众朋友们，下午好！欢迎收看我们的节目。
  • Pinyin: Guānzhòng péngyǒumen, xiàwǔ hǎo! Huānyíng shōukàn wǒmen de jiémù.
  • English: Good afternoon, friends in the audience! Welcome to our show.
  • Analysis: This is how a host of a TV or radio show might greet their audience during an afternoon broadcast.
• Example 9:
  • 喂？下午好，这里是前台。
  • Pinyin: Wéi? Xiàwǔ hǎo, zhèlǐ shì qiántái.
  • English: Hello? Good afternoon, this is the front desk.
  • Analysis: A standard way to answer the phone in a professional setting like an office or hotel. “喂” (wéi) is the specific “hello” for answering calls.
• Example 10:
  • 他很有礼貌，每次见到我都会说“下午好”。
  • Pinyin: Tā hěn yǒu lǐmào, měi cì jiàn dào wǒ dūhuì shuō “xiàwǔ hǎo”.
  • English: He is very polite; every time he sees me, he says, “Good afternoon.”
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the act of using the greeting, highlighting its association with politeness (有礼貌, yǒu lǐmào).

• Mistake 1: Using it at the wrong time.
  • The most common mistake is a simple time mix-up. Remember the general rules:
    • Morning (until ~11 AM): 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo)
    • Midday (~11 AM - 1 PM): 中午好 (zhōngwǔ hǎo)
    • Afternoon (~1 PM - 5/6 PM): 下午好 (xiàwǔ hǎo)
    • Evening (~6 PM onwards): 晚上好 (wǎnshang hǎo)
  • Using “下午好” at 10 AM will sound strange, just as “Good morning” would at 3 PM in English.
• Mistake 2: Overusing it with close friends.
  • While technically not “wrong,” greeting a close friend with a formal “下午好” every time you see them can create a sense of distance. It can make you sound like a textbook. With friends your age, a simple “Hi” (嗨), “Hey” (嘿), or just launching into conversation is far more natural.
• Nuance: “下午好” vs. “你好”
  • 你好 (nǐ hǎo) is your universal, all-purpose “hello.” It's never wrong, but it can sometimes sound a bit generic or be perceived as a greeting for strangers. Using “下午好” shows more specific awareness and can feel slightly warmer and more polite than a default “你好.”

• Greetings for Other Times of Day:
  • 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo) - Good morning. The direct equivalent for the morning period.
  • 中午好 (zhōngwǔ hǎo) - Good noon. Used for a shorter period around midday, less common than the others but still correct.
  • 晚上好 (wǎnshang hǎo) - Good evening. The greeting used after sunset or in the evening.
  • 晚安 (wǎn'ān) - Good night. This is a farewell, used when leaving for the night or going to bed, not a greeting.
• General and Informal Greetings:
  • 你好 (nǐ hǎo) - Hello. The most basic and versatile greeting.
  • 你们好 (nǐmen hǎo) - Hello (plural). Used when greeting two or more people.
  • 大家好 (dàjiā hǎo) - Hello everyone. A common and friendly way to address a group.
  • 嗨 (hāi) / 嘿 (hēi) - Hi / Hey. Casual, informal loanwords used among friends and younger people.
  • 吃了吗 (chī le ma) - Have you eaten? A traditional, informal greeting, especially among older generations, that functions like “How are you doing?”