ni hao (second tone first tone when used together) means 'Hello' in mandarin chinese. When the question word 'ma' (no tone) is added at the end of it, it simply means "How are you?" The literal meaning of ni hao is 'you good'. Putting something before the word good makes it hello to that paticular person or group of people. ni is simply 'you', so you would that that to only one person. With the 'ma', the literal translation is 'you good?'
yue lan: ni hao!
xiaoyun: ni hao ma?
yue lan: hao. ni ne?
"Ni huyah" is a common phrase used in international language (especially slavic and chineese). Sometimes mistaken for "ni hao", but it's meaning is rather different:
1. Something is impossible, however hard you'd try.
2. Absolutely nothing, zero, null.
3. Also used as a rejection with meaning similar to "no way" or "that's not true".
1. A: Can you fix it?
B: Ni huyah, it's ultimately destroyed.
2. Beggar: Please, gimme money for drugs and alcohol... do you have any...?
You: Ni huyah do I have money for you!
3. Adidas: Impossible is nothing.
Consumer: Ni huyah!