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Q: How do Chinese really "greet" each other for the first time?
In my chinese class I learned "hen gaoxing renshi ni" as the typical first time greeting (nice to meet you).
However, since then, I've had several people tell me that Chinese don't actually say that to each other and its more of a "we're used to it because foreigners say it to us" sort of thing.
So what do Chinese say to each other? Is there a more "didao" (authentic) greeting?
Thank you.
11 years 19 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
Well... I will probably get executed for saying this, but I have actually cracked the code on how Chinese people, who have never met, greet each other when foreigners are not around. I will warn you, it is very complex and if you get even the smallest part wrong, small puppies in the hands of children will start to explode.
Step 1: They look around to ensure no foreigners are nearby.
Step 2: The person who wants to initiate the greeting will face NW.
Step 3: The person who will accept the greeting will face SE.
Step 4: There is no Step 4 since "4" is an unlucky number.
Step 5: They will once again check to ensure no foreigners are about.
Step 6: The "Greeter" will loosen his jaw muscles by moving his jaw in a clockwise circular motion.
Step 7: The "Greetee" will loosen his jaw muscles by moving his jaw muscles in a counter-clockwise circular motion.
Step 8: In the distance a gong will ring out and simultaneously both parties will say... "WASSSUUUUPPPPP!"
Step 9: Step 8 will be repeated since it is a really lucky number.
Step 10: They will high five, fist bump and agree to meet each other on the down low as they continue on their way.
Now remember, for the sake of the puppies, you must do this exactly. And for my sake, you didn't hear all this from me.
Mr_spoon:
I hope you used at least 5 proxies to post this!
You wish they would execute you directly without any torture for this!
crimochina:
who on gods green earth could thumb this down? answer of the day
I have never heard what you wrote said by any Chinese to any other Chinese upon a first meeting in all my years in China. Not even one time. I have heard Ni Hao and other simple polite forms of address but not that one, for sure.
I've heard that one, and also "jian dao ni hen gao xing" (见到你很高兴). Same meaning basically. I've had Chinese people speak your phrase to me before, but it was a bit of a formal setting.
Maybe a more appropriate informal greeting would just be a light grunt and then sniff each other's butts? I kid I kid. 
Well... I will probably get executed for saying this, but I have actually cracked the code on how Chinese people, who have never met, greet each other when foreigners are not around. I will warn you, it is very complex and if you get even the smallest part wrong, small puppies in the hands of children will start to explode.
Step 1: They look around to ensure no foreigners are nearby.
Step 2: The person who wants to initiate the greeting will face NW.
Step 3: The person who will accept the greeting will face SE.
Step 4: There is no Step 4 since "4" is an unlucky number.
Step 5: They will once again check to ensure no foreigners are about.
Step 6: The "Greeter" will loosen his jaw muscles by moving his jaw in a clockwise circular motion.
Step 7: The "Greetee" will loosen his jaw muscles by moving his jaw muscles in a counter-clockwise circular motion.
Step 8: In the distance a gong will ring out and simultaneously both parties will say... "WASSSUUUUPPPPP!"
Step 9: Step 8 will be repeated since it is a really lucky number.
Step 10: They will high five, fist bump and agree to meet each other on the down low as they continue on their way.
Now remember, for the sake of the puppies, you must do this exactly. And for my sake, you didn't hear all this from me.
Mr_spoon:
I hope you used at least 5 proxies to post this!
You wish they would execute you directly without any torture for this!
crimochina:
who on gods green earth could thumb this down? answer of the day
Yes they will greet you with a smile first then they will converse on something important like family etc.,
