很好，谢谢！

Use this when someone asks 你好吗？ (How are you?). You can also use it when someone asks how your day was. Or even how your meal tastes! It is a complete package. You state your status and then thank the person for asking. It is polite, clean, and efficient. If you want to be extra friendly, pair it with a smile. It works perfectly in both speech and text.

Use it when your boss asks about a project. Use it when a neighbor greets you in the elevator. It is perfect for small talk at a party. If a waiter asks if the food is okay, this is your line. It is the 'safety' phrase of the Chinese language. You can never really go wrong with it. It makes you sound well-mannered and upbeat.

Do not use this if things are actually going poorly. If you just lost your keys, 很好 will sound sarcastic or confusing. Also, avoid using it with very close family members. With your mom or spouse, it might sound a bit too formal. They might ask, 'Why are you being so polite?' In those cases, a simple 挺好的 (pretty good) feels more intimate. Also, do not use it to answer 'Yes/No' questions.

Chinese culture places a high value on harmony and politeness. Even if you are just 'okay,' saying 很好 keeps the social energy positive. The 谢谢 at the end is crucial. It acknowledges the other person's concern for you. Interestingly, younger generations might skip the 谢谢 with friends. But keeping it in shows you have great 'mianzi' (social standing/manners). It is a hallmark of a person who knows their etiquette.

If you are feeling amazing, try 非常好 (Extremely good). If you want to sound more casual, use 挺好的 (Quite good). To ask the question back, add 你呢？ (And you?). So it becomes: 很好，谢谢。你呢？ This creates a perfect loop of polite conversation. It is the simplest way to keep a chat going without needing a massive vocabulary.