Once you pick up your phone, no matter you are the caller or the one is called, the first word you will say is:
hello = 喂 (wei | ㄨㄟˋ)
Although it is pronounced with the fourth tone, it is usually pronounced with the SECOND tone. Note that 喂 (wei | ㄨㄟˋ) is used as telephone greetings ONLY.
你好 (ni hao | ㄋㄧˇ ㄏㄠˇ) is usually followed after hello = 喂 (wei | ㄨㄟˋ) . It means how are you?. The conversation will be like :
喂, 你好 (wei ni hao | ㄨㄟˋ ㄋㄧˇ ㄏㄠˇ) = hello, how are you?
*你好 (ni hao | ㄋㄧˇ ㄏㄠˇ) can be used to greet either people that you know or strangers.
May I ask you? = 請問一下 (qing wen yi xia | ㄑㄧㄥˇ ㄨㄣˋ 一 ㄒㄧㄚˋ)
Is this ___? = 這是 ___ 嗎? (zhe shi ___ ma? | ㄓㄜˋ ㄕˋ ___ ㄇㄚ?)
Wrong number = 打錯了 (da cuo le | ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄜ)
Who do you want to speak to? = 你找誰? (ni zhao shei? | ㄋㄧˇ ㄓㄠˇ ㄕㄟˊ?)
I want to speak to ___ = 我找 ___ (wo zhao | ㄨㄛˇ ㄓㄠˇ ___)
Is ___(person) there? = ___在嗎? (___ zai ma? | ___ ㄗㄞˋ ㄇㄚ?)
Answer for this question are:
No = 不在 (bu zai | ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄞˋ)
Yes = 在 (zai | ㄗㄞˋ)
Wait for a moment = 等一下 (deng yi xia | ㄉㄥˇ 一 ㄒㄧㄚˋ)
Do you need to leave a message? = 需要留言嗎? (xu yao liu yan ma? | ㄒㄩ 一ㄠˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ 一ㄢˊ ㄇㄚ?)
