The most common greeting is 你好 (nǐ hǎo), and the formal or polite version replaces 你 with 您 (nín), giving 您好 (nín hǎo), which is used for elders, customers, or strangers. Good morning is 早上好 (zǎo shàng hǎo), good evening is 晚上好 (wǎn shàng hǎo), and good night as a farewell is 晚安 (wǎn ān). 早上好 uses third, fourth, and third tones, while 晚上好 uses third, fourth, and third tones as well. The greeting 早 (zǎo) is a casual shortened form used among friends.
Family vocabulary often uses reduplication, which produces a neutral tone on the second syllable and adds an affectionate tone. 妈妈 (mā ma) is mom, 爸爸 (bà ba) is dad, 哥哥 (gēge) is older brother, 姐姐 (jiějie) is older sister, 弟弟 (dìdi) is younger brother, and 妹妹 (mèimei) is younger sister. The more formal versions are 母亲 (mǔ qīn) and 父亲 (fù qīn), used in writing or respectful contexts. To say I am Chinese, the pattern is subject plus 是 plus country plus 人, as in 我是中国人 (wǒ shì Zhōngguó rén). To ask someone's nationality, you can say 你是哪国人 (nǐ shì nǎ guó rén). The word 家 (jiā) means both family and home, so 我家有四个人 (wǒ jiā yǒu sì ge rén) means My family has four people. The measure word for family members is 口 (kǒu), as in 你家有几口人 (nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén).
To ask someone's name, the standard question is 你叫什么名字 (nǐ jiào shénme míngzi), and a typical reply is 我叫 followed by the name, such as 我叫安娜 (wǒ jiào Ān nà). A more formal version asks 您贵姓 (nín guì xìng), literally what is your honored surname. Other identity words include 老师 (lǎoshī) for teacher, 学生 (xuésheng) for student, 朋友 (péngyǒu) for friend, 同学 (tóngxué) for classmate, and 家人 (jiā rén) for family members. Possession is marked with 的 (de), a particle pronounced with a neutral tone, as in 我的老师 (wǒ de lǎoshī).