Formal:
* Ni hao (你好): This is the most common and widely used greeting, meaning "hello" or "good day." It's appropriate for all situations, from meeting someone for the first time to greeting a friend or family member.
Informal:
* Hi (嗨): This is a more casual greeting, similar to "hi" in English.
* Hey (嘿): This is even more casual, similar to "hey" in English.
Other Options:
* 你好吗 (nǐ hǎo ma): This is a slightly more formal greeting, meaning "How are you?"
* 早上好 (zǎo shàng hǎo): This means "good morning" and is used specifically in the morning.
* 下午好 (xià wǔ hǎo): This means "good afternoon" and is used in the afternoon.
* 晚上好 (wǎn shàng hǎo): This means "good evening" and is used in the evening.
The best way to choose the right greeting is to consider the context and the relationship you have with the person you are greeting.