Greeting Exchange

 

 When greeting friends, it is common to ask they are busy to see if they have time to talk or hang out. In this case, you would ask 你忙不忙 (nǐ máng bù máng). When replying, you can say that you are 太忙 (tài máng), which means "too busy." But if have more time on your hands, you will likely say 不忙 (bù máng), which means "not busy." Or, you could say 还好 (hái hǎo), which means "so-so" or "still okay."

 

This exchange could sound like:

你好！你忙不忙？

 Nǐ hǎo! Nǐ máng bù máng?

 

Hello! Are you busy?

今天工作很困，太忙了。

Jīn tiān gōng zuò hěn kùn, wǒ tài máng le.

 

Work is really rough today, I'm too busy.

哦那我们明天见吧.

Ó nà wǒmen míngtiān jiàn ba.

 

Oh, then let's meet tomorrow. Or,

喂! 你忙不忙?

Wèi! Nǐ máng bù máng?

 

Hey! Are you busy?

不忙,今天我有空

Bù máng jīntiān wǒ yǒu kòng.

 

Not busy, I'm free today.

太好了！我们见面吧.

Tài hǎo le! Wǒ men jiàn miàn ba. Great! Let's meet up then.