'Nǐ hǎo ma?' is a standard, polite greeting in Chinese that literally combines the pronoun 'nǐ' (you), the adjective 'hǎo' (good/well), and the sentence-final question particle 'ma', which turns any statement into a yes-no question. Though it looks like a literal translation of 'You good?', it functions idiomatically as 'How are you?'—a friendly, open-ended inquiry about someone's general well-being or current state.

This phrase is most common in casual to semi-formal spoken interactions—between friends, classmates, colleagues, or when meeting acquaintances. It’s rarely used in writing except in dialogue or informal digital communication. Unlike English, Chinese speakers often don’t expect a detailed response; a simple 'Wǒ hěn hǎo, xièxie' (I’m very well, thank you) suffices. Tone is important: 'ma' is neutral (light tone), not third tone—pronouncing it as 'mǎ' would sound unnatural or even humorous.