Bored from using same phrases - alternatives sought

[pprendeville]

I am still at elementary level in my Chinese after 2 years studying. Lots of excuses etc but I've finally got the opportunity to get stuck in during my year here in Minzu University in Beijing. I'm making a big effort to speak as much as possible and also to use Chinese software like QQ for online chat. However, I've found that I'm not very creative when texting and am getting slightly bored of saying 你好， 谢谢， etc etc. I remember coming across a website before that offered alternatives to the most common phrases but can't for the life of me find it. Can anyone recommend some sites where I can find some good material?

[abcdefg]

However, I've found that I'm not very creative when texting and am getting slightly bored of saying 你好， 谢谢， etc etc.

I don't know an internet source for a list, but I have a cute and silly 八零后 female friend who sometimes starts text messages with 哈楼 instead of 你好。

[JustinJJ]

if you're a girl maybe you could get saying with using 猫宁 (morning) once in a while or say 早 for good morning. Or ask questions Chinese people ask like 你吃了吗. Perhaps throw in lots of smiley faces as well.

[Kenny同志]

你好 is rather formal. It is advised that it should not be used between friends, especially between close ones.

[Demonic_Duck]

In my experience, 你好 is best for first meetings and people with whom you don't have a personal relationship (people on the street, service staff, business associates with whom you don't have regular contact, etc.)

[muyongshi]

What Kenny and Duck said. Even in English, I think we seldom include a general greeting unless its specific (like "good morning") or you don't know them well. In Chinese the only time I use 你好 in texts is when I have no clue how to start a message. So typically with those I don't know or with friends I haven't talked to in a very very long time. Same is true if 谢谢. Friends got upset with me once for over using it and said it makes them feel that we were not really friends because I was too polite.

[pprendeville]

Good point. I always say thanks in English whether a person is a friend or not but I've learned not to carry the habit with me to China. Going off topic here but one thing I've found to be a little offensive is I've offered to 请客 a few of my classmates (who are also from my home uni but actually Eastern European) and they've refused me every time. Maybe I have BO or something. I'm not breaking the bank or anything (we're talking 10yuan here for a canteen meal) but no matter what I've said to allay their fears they still refused.

[WestTexas]

嘿/嗨 (English hey or hi) are OK.

拜拜 for goodbye.

Some people will say these aren't good because they are English words, but plenty of Chinese use them with each other.

Also, you can just say 嗯 to agree with people instead of 是 or 对.

[Demonic_Duck]

Who's the member here who does translation work and has a blog where s/he often posts lists of similar/synonymous words (e.g. n words for "stupid" etc.) I remember there was one of those that was n words for expressing agreement. That could be relevant here.

Edit: here it is http://carlgene.com/blog/2010/10/11-words-for-%E2%80%9Cindeed%E2%80%9D-in-chinese/