喂
hello? (starting or answering a phone call)
Structure
喂 ，……
What it means
喂 is the “hello” of phone calls: you say it when you pick up, and the caller says it too.
How it is built
喂 + what you want to say: 喂，你好！请问王明在吗？ (Hello! Is Wang Ming there, please?).
When to use it
On the phone it has a rising tone, wéi, like a question: 喂？喂？你能听见吗？ Face to face, say 你好 instead.
Watch out
A short, falling wèi! is how you shout “hey!” at someone, and it can sound rude. Don’t greet people in person with 喂.
Examples
喂，你好！请问王明在吗？
Hello! Is Wang Ming there, please?
喂，是我，大卫。
Hello, it’s me, David.
喂？喂？你能听见吗？
Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?
Learn this in HSK 1 · Lesson 15: 你在做什么呢 (On the phone)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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