寒暄 (hánxuān): to exchange pleasantries

Meanings

1 to exchange pleasantries
2 to make small talk
3 to pass the time of day

Characters

寒

warm (of weather); soft and warm — used in classical texts

Examples

见面后，两人先寒暄了几句。

Jiànmiàn hòu, liǎng rén xiān hánxuān le jǐ jù.

After meeting, the two exchanged a few pleasantries first.

他不善于寒暄，更喜欢直接进入正题。

Tā bù shànyú hánxuān, gèng xǐhuān zhíjiē jìnrù zhèngtí.

He is not good at small talk and prefers to get straight to the point.

Tips

history

寒暄 originally referred to asking about the weather — 寒 (cold) and 暄 (warm). In ancient China, asking 'is it cold or warm where you are?' was standard polite conversation. It has since broadened to mean any social pleasantries or small talk.