In China, one of the most common ways to greet people is by using a question. Even more common than greeting people with a simple “你好,” these questions can vary depending on the situation. For example, around any mealtime, you may hear people greet each other by asking “你吃了吗？”(nǐ chī le mɑ?) or “have you eaten yet?"
If you see someone is about to go out, it’s common to ask “你去哪儿？”(nǐ qù nǎr?) or “where are you going?” Similarly, if you see someone coming back with shopping bags you might ask “你去买东西了？”(nǐ qù mǎi dōngxi le? ) or “you went shopping?”
Finally, when friends who have not seen each other for a while meet they will often greet each other by asking “最近忙什么呢？”(zùijìn máng shénme ne?) or “what have you been busy with lately?”
Although they might seem grilling, using these questions to greet people in Chinese is actually about the same as saying “hello” or “hi” in English. Since greeting people in this way is mainly meant to express thoughtfulness on the part of the speaker and a degree of closeness between the two parties involved, a detailed response is not necessary; a simple nod or a question in return will suffice.
