How do you say hello in Chinese apart from nee-how?

You're right, "nǐ hǎo" (你好) is the most common way to say "hello" in Chinese, but there are other options depending on the context and formality:

Formal:

* 您好 (nǐ hǎo): This is the most polite and formal greeting, used for strangers, elders, and people in positions of authority.

* 贵姓 (guì xìng): This literally means "What is your surname?" and is used as a polite greeting when you're meeting someone for the first time.

* 请问 (qǐng wèn): This means "May I ask?" and is used to politely initiate a conversation.

Informal:

* 你好 (nǐ hǎo): This is the standard greeting for friends, family, and people you know well.

* 早上好 (zǎo shàng hǎo): This means "good morning" and is used from dawn until noon.

* 下午好 (xià wǔ hǎo): This means "good afternoon" and is used from noon to sunset.

* 晚上好 (wǎn shàng hǎo): This means "good evening" and is used from sunset to bedtime.

* 嗨 (hāi): This is a very informal greeting, similar to "hey" in English.

Regional Variations:

* 上海话 (shàng hǎi huà) - "侬好 (nóng hǎo)": This is a common greeting in Shanghai.

* 广东话 (guǎng dōng huà) - "你好 (néihòu)": This is the Cantonese pronunciation of "你好".

It's important to consider the situation and your relationship with the person when choosing a greeting.