Word Guide
How to pronounce 你好 (nǐ hǎo)
你好 means "hello". Use this guide to lock in the tone pattern, articulation target, and the mistake most learners still make.
Short answer
你好 is pronounced nǐ hǎo and means "hello". The key target is tone sandhi, with the tone pattern Tone 2 + Tone 3.
Why learners miss it
Learners often miss 你好 because both syllables are often pronounced as heavy full third tones.
Self-test
Record 你好, then check whether your pitch contour and articulation match nǐ hǎo.
Pinyin
nǐ hǎo
Tone Pattern
Tone 2 + Tone 3
Pronunciation Focus
toneSandhi
How to say it
Guided fix
How to shape this pronunciation
What to do
Say nǐ slowly first, then keep the target sound steady as you move through the rest of 你好.
What to avoid
Do not let the whole word flatten into one rushed shape. Keep the target consonant or tone contrast clear.
What to listen for
The key sound should stay distinct instead of collapsing toward the nearest easy English habit.
Quick self-check
Say nǐ hǎo once slowly and once at normal speed. If the target sound disappears when you speed up, it is not stable yet.
Phonetic Breakdown
n+i_h+ao
Most common error
Error summary
Both syllables are often pronounced as heavy full third tones.
Focus area
ToneSandhi
Difficulty
Easy
HSK Level
HSK1