In daily communication, expressing gratitude and responding to thanks demonstrates politeness, respect, and appreciation for others. When learning Chinese, knowing how to say thank you in Chinese is fundamental to help you communicate smoothly in everyday situations. In this article, Ni Hao Ma will guide you on how to say thank you in Chinese and how to respond to it.
How To Say Thank You In Chinese
Saying thank you in Chinese not only reflects good manners but also helps you build strong relationships with others. So, how do we say thank you in Chinese?
Pronunciation
In Chinese, “thank you” is expressed by the phrase 谢谢 (xièxie). This is the most common and straightforward way to convey gratitude in daily conversations.
Moreover, depending on the context and the level of formality, speakers can use other expressions, such as:
- 非常感谢 (fēicháng gǎnxiè) – Thank you very much
- 多谢 (duōxiè) – Many thanks
- 感激不尽 (gǎnjī bù jìn) – Deeply grateful
The word “谢谢” (xièxie) is often used alongside phrases like 你 (nǐ – you) or 大家 (dàjiā – everyone) to specify the recipient of gratitude. For example, 谢谢你 (xièxie nǐ) means “thank you” or 谢谢大家 (xièxie dàjiā) means “thank you, everyone.” These are common expressions for saying thank you in Chinese.
When pronouncing 谢谢 (xièxie), it’s important to distinguish the two syllables. The first “xiè” is pronounced with the fourth tone, while the second “xie” is softer and unstressed.
For more details: 4 Main Tones in Chinese
Writing
The character 谢 (xiè) in Chinese means “thank” or “gratitude.” It is widely used in daily conversations. Besides expressing thanks, 谢 can also mean “refuse” or “decline” in certain contexts. For example, in the phrase 谢绝 (xièjué), it means “politely refuse.”
- Pinyin: xiè
- Total strokes: 12
- Radical: 言 (yán) + 10 strokes
More ways to say thank you in Chinese
In daily communication, knowing how to express gratitude is an essential part of building relationships and demonstrating politeness. When you want to say thank you in Chinese, there are several phrases you can use depending on the context:
1. 谢谢 (Xièxiè) – Thank You
This is the most basic phrase to say thank you In Chinese and it can be used in almost any situation.
Example:
A: 这是你的咖啡。(Zhè shì nǐ de kāfēi.) – This is your coffee.
B: 谢谢！(Xièxiè!) – Thank you!
2. 多谢 (Duōxiè) – Thanks a Lot
This phrase means “Thanks a Lot” and conveys a slightly deeper sense of gratitude than 谢谢.
Example:
- 多谢你帮了我！(Duōxiè nǐ bāngle wǒ!) – Thanks a Lot for helping me!
- 多谢你抽时间来参加会议。(Duōxiè nǐ chōu shíjiān lái cānjiā huìyì.) – Thanks a Lot for taking the time to attend the meeting.
3. 非常感谢 (Fēicháng gǎnxiè) – Thank You Very Much
This is a formal way to say thank you in Chinese, expressing deep gratitude. It is often used in serious or polite situations.
Example:
- 非常感谢您的耐心。(Fēicháng gǎnxiè nín de nàixīn.) – Thank you very much for your patience.
- 非常感谢你在困难时支持我。(Fēicháng gǎnxiè nǐ zài kùnnán shí zhīchí wǒ.) – Thank you very much for supporting me during difficult times.
4. 谢了 (Xiè le) – “Thank you” in a casual tone
This phrase carries a casual and friendly vibe, typically used in daily conversations among friends or close acquaintances.
Example:
- 谢了啊，下次请你吃饭！(Xiè le a, xià cì qǐng nǐ chī fàn!)
Thank you! I’ll treat you to a meal next time! - 谢了兄弟！(Xiè le xiōngdì!)
Thank you, bro!
5. 感谢 (Gǎnxiè) – “Grateful” or “Thank you with deep appreciation”
This phrase is more formal, conveying profound gratitude and respect toward someone or something.
Examples:
- 我衷心感谢您的支持。(Wǒ zhōngxīn gǎnxiè nín de zhīchí.)
I sincerely express my thank you for your support. - 感谢你的信任。(Gǎnxiè nǐ de xìnrèn.)
Thank you for your trust.
6. 谢谢大家 (Xièxiè dàjiā) – “Thank you everyone”
This phrase is commonly used when expressing gratitude to a group of people, often in meetings, events, or gatherings.
Examples:
- 谢谢大家今天来参加我们的活动。(Xièxiè dàjiā jīntiān lái cānjiā wǒmen de huódòng.)
Thank you everyone for attending our event today. - 谢谢大家给我这个机会。(Xièxiè dàjiā gěi wǒ zhège jīhuì.)
Thank you everyone for giving me this opportunity.
7. 感激不尽 (Gǎnjī bù jìn) – Profound Gratitude
This is a formal expression used to convey deep gratitude that cannot be fully expressed in words. 感激不尽 (Gǎnjī bù jìn) is typically employed in serious situations where you wish to express heartfelt thanks for assistance or favors received.
Examples:
对于您给予的帮助，我感激不尽。
(Duìyú nín gěiyǔ de bāngzhù, wǒ gǎnjī bù jìn.)
For the help you have provided, I am profoundly grateful.
在过去的一年中，感谢大家对我的支持和鼓励，我感激不尽！
(Zài guòqù de yī nián zhōng, gǎnxiè dàjiā duì wǒ de zhīchí hé gǔlì, wǒ gǎnjī bù jìn!)
Over the past year, thank you everyone for their support and encouragement; I am deeply grateful!
8. 辛苦了 (Xīnkǔ le) – Thank You for Your Hard Work
辛苦了 (Xīnkǔ le) is a commonly used phrase in Chinese to express gratitude for someone’s effort, hard work, or dedication. It conveys both appreciation and acknowledgment of the challenges they have faced.
Examples:
- 今天你做了这么多事，辛苦了！
(Jīntiān nǐ zuòle zhème duō shì, xīnkǔ le!)
You’ve done so much today; thank you for your hard work! - 感谢大家的配合，辛苦了！
(Gǎnxiè dàjiā de pèihé, xīnkǔ le!)
Thank you all for your cooperation; you’ve worked hard!
How to Respond to “Thank You” in Chinese
By now, you’ve learned how to say “thank you” in Chinese. When someone expresses their gratitude, responding politely is an important part of communication. In Chinese, there are many different ways to respond to “thank you,” ranging from casual and formal to those that convey humility.
Here are some phrases you can use to reply to someone’s gratitude:
1. 不客气 (Bù kèqì) – You’re welcome
This is the most common response in Chinese, suitable for both formal and informal situations. It shows politeness while making the person who thanked you feel at ease.
Example:
A: 谢谢您今天的帮助！(Xièxiè nín jīntiān de bāngzhù!) – Thank you for your help today!
B: 不客气！这是我应该做的。(Bù kèqì! Zhè shì wǒ yīnggāi zuò de.) – You’re welcome! It’s what I should do.
2. 不用谢 (Bù yòng xiè) – No need to thank me
This response is friendly and casual, often used between colleagues, friends, or in less formal settings.
Example:
A: 谢谢你今天替我开会！(Xièxiè nǐ jīntiān tì wǒ kāihuì!) – Thank you for covering the meeting for me today!
B: 不用谢，举手之劳而已。(Bù yòng xiè, jǔshǒuzhīláo éryǐ.) – No need to thank me, it was just a small favor.
Explore more: 100+ Common Office Vocabulary In Chinese
3. 没事儿 (Méi shìr) – It’s Nothing, No Problem
没事儿 is a friendly and casual expression often used to reassure someone or respond in a lighthearted way when they thank or apologize to you. It helps create a relaxed atmosphere in conversations and eases any awkwardness for the other person. This phrase is commonly used in informal, everyday situations.
Example:
A: 谢谢你帮我修电脑！(Xièxiè nǐ bāng wǒ xiū diànnǎo!) – Thanks for helping me fix my computer!
B: 没事儿，顺便而已。(Méi shìr, shùnbiàn éryǐ.) – It’s nothing, just by the way.
4. 小事一桩 (Xiǎoshì yī zhuāng) – It’s no big deal
小事一桩 is often used to express modesty when you’ve helped someone, reassuring them or making them feel at ease about receiving your assistance. However, this phrase is best reserved for casual contexts, as it carries a friendly, informal tone and isn’t suitable for formal situations.
Example:
A: 谢谢你借我这本书。(Xièxiè nǐ jiè wǒ zhè běn shū,) – Thanks for lending me this book.
B: 小事一桩，看完再还我就行了。(Xiǎoshì yī zhuāng, kàn wán zài huán wǒ jiù xíng le.) – It’s no big deal, just return it when you’re done.
5. 应该的 (Yīnggāi de) – That’s what I’m supposed to do
This phrase is used to show sincerity and humility when responding to someone’s gratitude. 应该的 (Yīnggāi de) is appropriate in situations where you feel that what you did was the right thing to do and that the other person shouldn’t feel burdened or awkward. It’s commonly used among friends, family, or colleagues.
Example:
A: 谢谢你帮我！(Xièxiè nǐ bāng wǒ!) – Thank you for helping me!
B: 应该的。(Yīnggāi de) – That’s what I’m supposed to do.
6. 哪里哪里 (Nǎlǐ nǎlǐ) – Not at all
哪里哪里 (Nǎlǐ nǎlǐ) is a humble response used to downplay attention on your achievements or contributions. It can be translated as “Not at all” or “Oh, it’s nothing,” helping to soften compliments or gratitude from others.
Example:
A: 你做的菜真好吃，简直是厨艺大师！
(Nǐ zuò de cài zhēn hǎochī, jiǎnzhí shì chúyì dàshī!)
Your cooking is amazing; you’re practically a master chef!
B: 哪里哪里，都是一些简单的家常菜。
(Nǎlǐ nǎlǐ, dōu shì yīxiē jiǎndān de jiācháng cài.)
Not at all, they’re just some simple home-cooked dishes.
7. 别客气 (Bié kèqì) – You’re welcome / No need to be polite
别客气 (Bié kèqì) is a common response to expressions of gratitude, meaning “You’re welcome” or “No need to be polite.” It’s often used to make the other person feel at ease, emphasizing that the favor was done out of goodwill and not for acknowledgment. 别客气 is typically used in less intimate relationships, such as in workplaces or casual acquaintances.
Example:
A: 谢谢你今天帮我解答问题！
(Xièxiè nǐ jīntiān bāng wǒ jiědá wèntí!)
Thank you for helping me solve the problem today!
B: 别客气，随时可以问我。
(Bié kèqì, suíshí kěyǐ wèn wǒ.)
You’re welcome; feel free to ask me anytime.
Conclusion
In Chinese communication, expressing gratitude and responding to it is more than just polite behavior — it reflects cultural values, respect, and warmth in interpersonal relationships. We hope this article by Ni Hao Ma has provided insights into how to say thank you in Chinese and helped you build stronger connections with others.
For more common phrases for workplace or everyday conversations, check out Ni Hao Ma’s BCT or Speaking courses now!
