Chinese Social Customs: Greetings and Honorifics

Chinese social customs — greetings, titles, and forms of address — encode a sophisticated system of social relationships and hierarchies. Understanding these customs is essential for navigating Chinese society, demonstrating respect, and building relationships.

Greetings

The most common greeting is "ni hao" (你好, "you good"), though more formal greetings acknowledge the time of day: "zao shang hao" (早上好, "morning good"), "xia wu hao" (下午好, "afternoon good"). Bowing is not traditional in Chinese culture; instead, a slight nod or handshake is appropriate.

Titles and Forms of Address

Chinese names are family name first, given name second. When addressing someone, use their full name or title: "Zhang xiansheng" (张先生, Mr. Zhang), "Li xiaojie" (李小姐, Miss Li). For teachers: "laoshi" (老师). For doctors: "yisheng" (医生). Using proper titles shows respect for the social hierarchy.