下午好！
Good afternoon!
Literalmente: Down/After noon good!
Use it to greet anyone politely during daylight hours after lunch for a professional yet friendly impression.
Em 15 segundos
- The standard 'Good afternoon' used from 1 PM until sunset.
- Polite and professional, suitable for coworkers, teachers, and strangers.
- Combines 'afternoon' (xiàwǔ) and 'good' (hǎo) for a simple greeting.
Significado
This is the standard way to say 'Good afternoon' to anyone you meet between lunch and sunset. It is a polite, friendly greeting that works for both strangers and friends.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 7Entering a cafe
下午好！请问有位子吗？
Good afternoon! Is there a seat available?
Starting a business meeting
各位下午好，我们开始吧。
Good afternoon everyone, let's begin.
Greeting a teacher
王老师，下午好！
Teacher Wang, good afternoon!
Contexto cultural
While traditionally Chinese people greeted each other by asking if they had eaten, '下午好' emerged as a modern, standardized greeting for professional and urban environments. It reflects the shift toward international social norms in business hubs like Shanghai and Beijing.
The 'Teacher' Trick
In China, calling someone 'Teacher' (老师 lǎoshī) is a sign of respect even if they aren't your teacher. Try saying '老师，下午好' to show high-level politeness.
Watch the Clock
If the sun is down, stop using this! Switching to '晚上好' (Good evening) shows you're paying attention to the time.
Em 15 segundos
- The standard 'Good afternoon' used from 1 PM until sunset.
- Polite and professional, suitable for coworkers, teachers, and strangers.
- Combines 'afternoon' (xiàwǔ) and 'good' (hǎo) for a simple greeting.
What It Means
下午好 (xià wǔ hǎo) is your go-to greeting for the middle of the day. It literally breaks down into 'afternoon' and 'good.' It is simple, effective, and very easy to remember. Think of it as the sunny bridge between your morning coffee and your evening meal.
How To Use It
Just say it as you walk into a room or meet someone on the street. You can use it as a standalone greeting. You can also add a name or title before it. For example, 老师，下午好 (Teacher, good afternoon) makes you sound very polite. It is a great way to acknowledge someone without starting a long conversation. It is like a verbal wave.
When To Use It
Use this from about 1:00 PM until the sun starts to set. It is perfect for entering a shop or starting a 2:00 PM meeting. If you are texting a colleague after lunch, this is a safe bet. It works well when you want to be more specific than a simple 你好 (hello). It shows you are aware of the time and being thoughtful.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this once the streetlights come on. By then, you should switch to 晚上好 (Good evening). Also, avoid using it with your very best friends or siblings. It might sound a bit too stiff or 'textbook' for them. With close friends, a simple 'Hey' or 哈喽 (hā lóu) is much more natural. Don't be that person who sounds like a news anchor at a sleepover!
Cultural Background
In traditional Chinese culture, greetings were often about food, like 'Have you eaten?' Modern greetings like 下午好 are influenced by Western styles. They became popular as China became more globalized. In big cities like Shanghai or Beijing, you will hear this constantly in business settings. It represents a modern, professional, and polite way of interacting. It is the sound of a busy, productive society.
Common Variations
If you want to sound extra formal, you might hear 午安 (wǔ ān). This is more common in Taiwan or in very elegant settings. It literally means 'afternoon peace.' On the flip side, many people just stick to the universal 你好 (nǐ hǎo). If you are in a rush, a quick nod and 下午好 is the gold standard for being polite but efficient.
Notas de uso
This phrase is neutral to slightly formal. It is perfectly safe for workplace environments and service interactions, but may feel slightly distant among very close friends.
The 'Teacher' Trick
In China, calling someone 'Teacher' (老师 lǎoshī) is a sign of respect even if they aren't your teacher. Try saying '老师，下午好' to show high-level politeness.
Watch the Clock
If the sun is down, stop using this! Switching to '晚上好' (Good evening) shows you're paying attention to the time.
The 'Have you eaten?' alternative
In very traditional circles, people might still ask '你吃了吗?' (Have you eaten?) after lunch instead of '下午好'. It's their way of showing they care about your well-being!
Exemplos
7下午好！请问有位子吗？
Good afternoon! Is there a seat available?
A polite way to start an interaction with service staff.
各位下午好，我们开始吧。
Good afternoon everyone, let's begin.
Sets a professional tone for the group.
王老师，下午好！
Teacher Wang, good afternoon!
Adding a title before the phrase shows extra respect.
下午好，你有时间看下那个文件吗？
Good afternoon, do you have time to look at that file?
A soft way to lead into a work request.
下午好，今天天气不错。
Good afternoon, the weather is nice today.
Perfect for polite 'small talk' with acquaintances.
哎呀，现在都八点了，还下午好？
Oops, it's 8 o'clock already, and you're still saying good afternoon?
Used here to poke fun at someone who lost track of time.
奶奶，下午好，我来看您了。
Grandma, good afternoon, I've come to see you.
Shows warmth and respect to family elders.
Teste-se
Choose the correct time-based greeting for 2:00 PM.
现在是两点，我们要说：___。
下午 (xiàwǔ) means afternoon, which is appropriate for 2:00 PM.
How would you greet your boss, Mr. Li, in the afternoon?
李经理，___！
Greeting a manager with '下午好' is professional and polite.
🎉 Pontuação: /2
Recursos visuais
Greeting Formality Scale
Used with close friends
嘿 (Hey)
Standard polite greeting
下午好
Very respectful/Traditional
午安 (Wǔ ān)
Where to use 下午好
At the Office
Greeting coworkers
Retail/Shops
Entering a store
Education
Greeting a professor
Digital
First message of the day
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasGenerally, it starts after the lunch hour, around 1:00 PM. Before that, you would use 中午好 (zhōngwǔ hǎo) for 'Good noon'.
Yes, it is very appropriate for a professional setting. You can say 老板，下午好 (Lǎobǎn, xiàwǔ hǎo) to be respectful.
It can be a bit stiff. With close friends, most people just say 你好 or use English words like 'Hi'.
下午好 is the standard modern greeting. 午安 (wǔ ān) is more formal, slightly old-fashioned, or common in Southern China and Taiwan.
The easiest way is to simply repeat it back: 下午好！. You can also just say 你好.
Yes, it's a common way to start a professional WeChat message or email in the afternoon.
Literally, 下 (xià) means 'down/below' and 午 (wǔ) refers to the noon hour. It literally means 'the time after noon'.
Absolutely. It is a very polite way to get their attention before ordering.
People will understand you, but they might correct you by saying 晚上好 (Good evening) if it's already dark.
Not really for this specific phrase, but people often just shorten greetings to a simple 你(您)好.
Frases relacionadas
早上好
Good morning
晚上好
Good evening
午安
Good afternoon (formal/elegant)
晚安
Good night
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