dǎ zhāohu: 打招呼 - To Greet, To Say Hello, To Acknowledge

• Keywords: dazhaohu, da zhaohu, 打招呼, how to say hello in Chinese, greeting in Chinese, Chinese greetings, acknowledge someone in Chinese, say hi Chinese, give a heads-up in Chinese, Chinese greeting etiquette, HSK 3 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 打招呼 (dǎ zhāohu), which means “to greet” or “to say hello.” This page goes beyond a simple translation, exploring the cultural importance of acknowledging others in China, from a simple nod to a formal verbal greeting. You'll discover how 打招呼 is a fundamental social action for maintaining harmony, and how it's also used to mean “to give a heads-up” or “to let someone know.” Master this versatile term with practical examples, cultural insights, and tips to avoid common mistakes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dǎ zhāohu
• Part of Speech: Verb Phrase (Separable Verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To greet someone; to say hello; to inform or give notice.
• In a Nutshell: 打招呼 (dǎ zhāohu) is not a specific greeting like “Hello,” but rather the action of greeting. It's the verb “to greet.” This action can be verbal (like saying “你好”) or non-verbal (like a wave or a nod). It's a fundamental part of daily social interaction in China. Crucially, it also carries a second important meaning: to let someone know about something in advance, similar to “giving a heads-up.”

• 打 (dǎ): While its primary meaning is “to hit” or “to strike,” in many compound words 打 acts as a versatile action verb, meaning “to do,” “to make,” or “to engage in.” Think of it like in 打电话 (dǎ diànhuà) - “to make a phone call.”
• 招 (zhāo): This character means “to beckon,” “to summon,” or “to wave.” The hand radical on the left (扌) hints at a hand gesture.
• 呼 (hū): This character means “to call out” or “to shout.” The mouth radical on the left (口) signifies a vocal action.

When combined, 打招呼 (dǎ zhāohu) literally means something like “to make a beckoning call.” This paints a vivid picture of the action: getting someone's attention through a gesture (waving) and/or a sound (calling out), which is the essence of a greeting. ===== Cultural Context and Significance