Explanation of "下午好 (Xià wǔ hǎo)" in Chinese:

"下午好" is a standard afternoon greeting, equivalent to "Good afternoon" in English. Here’s the breakdown:

下午 (Xià wǔ)

Refers to the "afternoon," specifically the period **from approximately 12:00 PM to sunset** in Chinese daily usage. It follows "中午好 (zhōng wǔ hǎo, good midday)" and precedes "晚上好 (wǎn shang hǎo, good evening)."

好 (Hǎo)

Literally "good," used to wish someone a pleasant afternoon.

Tone and usage:

Formal-friendly and widely applicable in both professional and casual settings. It’s a polite way to greet colleagues, clients, or friends during the afternoon hours. Unlike "中午好," which has a narrower time window, "下午好" covers a longer period and is more commonly used in daily interactions.

Example:

At work in the afternoon: 下午好，请问需要帮忙吗？ ("Good afternoon, may I help you?")