问好 · First hellos

4 of 6

早上好

zǎoshanghǎo

Good morning

Sounds roughly like dzow-shahng how

Literal meaning

  • 早上

    zǎoshang

    morning

  • hǎo

    good

early · above · good

How to pronounce it

  • zǎo

    zao3

    33rd · dipping

    z (“ds”) + ao. Dip. This is the stressed syllable.

  • shang

    shang5

    ·neutral

    Retroflex sh (tongue curled back) + ahng. Neutral here — keep it light.

  • hǎo

    hao3

    33rd · dipping

    Full dipping 好. Two 3rds are separated by a neutral, so both stay 3rd.

In real life

早上好,你睡得好吗?

Zǎoshang hǎo, nǐ shuì de hǎo ma?

Good morning — did you sleep well?