The common expressions
不用谢 (Bùyòng xiè.)
This term literally means “No need to thank me.” A polite and casual response to “thank you,” indicating the speaker thinks it’s nothing significant or that they’re happy to help.
e.g.
A: 谢谢你帮我带早餐。(Xièxie nǐ bāng wǒ dài zǎocān.) Thank you for bringing me breakfast.
B: 不用谢。(Bùyòng xiè.) No need to thank me.
A: 感谢你提醒我带钥匙。(Gǎnxiè nǐ tíxǐng wǒ dài yàoshi.) Thank you for reminding me to bring my keys.
B: 不用谢,这是小事。(Bùyòng xiè, zhè shì xiǎo shì.) No need to thank me; it’s nothing.
A: 谢谢你送我到机场。(Xièxie nǐ sòng wǒ dào jīchǎng.) Thank you for driving me to the airport.
B: 不用谢,路上小心。(Bùyòng xiè, lùshàng xiǎoxīn.) No need to thank me; travel safe.
不用客气 (bùyòng kèqì.)
“No need to be so polite.” This is another common response to “thank you,” suggesting friendliness and that the favor was no trouble.
e.g.
A: 谢谢你帮我拿行李。(Xièxie nǐ bāng wǒ ná xínglǐ.) Thank you for helping me carry my luggage.
B: 不用客气。(Bùyòng kèqì.) You’re welcome.
A: 太感谢你给我指路了。(Tài gǎnxiè nǐ gěi wǒ zhǐlù le.) Thank you so much for giving me directions.
B: 不用客气,希望你玩的开心。(Bùyòng kèqì, xīwàng nǐ wán de kāixīn.) You’re welcome. Hope you have fun.
A: 谢谢你带我参观公司。(Xièxie nǐ dài wǒ cānguān gōngsī.) Thank you for showing me around the company.
B: 不用客气,随时找我有问题再问。(Bùyòng kèqì, suíshí zhǎo wǒ yǒu wèntí zài wèn.) You’re welcome; feel free to ask me anytime if you have questions.
你太客气了 (Nǐ tài kèqìle.)
It literally means “You’re too polite.” And it is used to respond to someone’s gratitude or compliments, indicating they don’t need to be so formal or excessively grateful.
e.g.
A: 我真的不知道怎么感谢你。(Wǒ zhēn de bù zhīdào zěnme gǎnxiè nǐ.) I really don’t know how to thank you.
B: 你太客气了,这都没什么。(Nǐ tài kèqì le, zhè dōu méishénme.) You’re too polite; it’s nothing.
A: 这是给你的一点心意。(Zhè shì gěi nǐ de yìdiǎn xīnyì.) This is a small gift for you.
B: 你太客气了,真不用这么破费。(Nǐ tài kèqì le, zhēn bùyòng zhème pòfèi.) You’re too polite. You really didn’t have to spend money.
A: 谢谢你帮我找工作机会。(Xièxie nǐ bāng wǒ zhǎo gōngzuò jīhuì.) Thank you for helping me find a job opportunity.
B: 你太客气了,希望你一切顺利。(Nǐ tài kèqì le, xīwàng nǐ yíqiè shùnlì.) You’re too polite; I hope everything goes smoothly for you.
The extended phrases to express “You’re Welcome” in Chinese
The modest expressions
这是我的荣幸。(Zhè shì wǒ de róngxìng.)
“It’s my honor.” It’s a modest expression used when you want to show that you feel honored or privileged to have helped.
e.g.
A: 谢谢你参加我的婚礼。(Xièxie nǐ cānjiā wǒ de hūnlǐ.) Thank you for attending my wedding.
B: 这是我的荣幸,祝你们百年好合。(Zhè shì wǒ de róngxìng, zhù nǐmen bǎinián hǎo hé.) It’s my honor. Wishing you a long and happy marriage.
A: 感谢您来给我们做演讲。(Gǎnxiè nín lái gěi wǒmen zuò yǎnjiǎng.) Thank you for giving us the speech.
B: 这是我的荣幸,希望对大家有所帮助。(Zhè shì wǒ de róngxìng, xīwàng duì dàjiā yǒu suǒ bāngzhù.) It’s my honor. I hope it helps everyone.
乐意效劳 (Lèyì xiàoláo.)
“Happy to serve.” This is polite and slightly formal, it shows willingness to help or serve someone.
e.g.
A: 谢谢你帮我解决技术问题。(Xièxie nǐ bāng wǒ jiějué jìshù wèntí.) Thank you for fixing the technical issue for me.
B: 乐意效劳,下次有需要再找我。(Lèyì xiàoláo, xiàcì yǒu xūyào zài zhǎo wǒ.) Happy to help. Feel free to come to me next time you need it.
A: 我能请你帮忙翻译一下这个文件吗?(Wǒ néng qǐng nǐ bāngmáng fānyì yíxià zhège wénjiàn ma?) Could I ask you to help translate this document?
B: 当然,乐意效劳。(Dāngrán, lèyì xiàoláo.) Of course, I’m happy to serve.
The casual expressions
那没什么。(Nà méishénme.)
“That’s nothing.” It’s a casual way to downplay your effort, implying it was no trouble at all.
e.g.
A: 谢谢你给我买药来。(Xièxie nǐ gěi wǒ mǎi yào lái.) Thank you for buying medicine for me.
B: 那没什么,你好好休息吧。(Nà méishénme, nǐ hǎohāo xiūxi ba.) That’s nothing; just rest well.
A: 感谢你帮我完成这份报告。(Gǎnxiè nǐ bāng wǒ wánchéng zhè fèn bàogào.) Thank you for helping me finish this report.
B: 那没什么,我正好有空。(Nà méishénme, wǒ zhènghǎo yǒu kòng.) That’s nothing; I just happened to have time.
没事 (Méishì.)
“No problem” or “It’s alright.” This is very casual and colloquial, similar to “No worries” in English.
e.g.
A: 谢谢你借我钱渡过难关。(Xièxie nǐ jiè wǒ qián dùguò nánguān.) Thank you for lending me money to get through a tough time.
B: 没事,先拿着用吧。(Méishì, xiān názhe yòng ba.) No worries, just use it first.
A: 我不小心打翻了你的咖啡,对不起!(Wǒ bù xiǎoxīn dǎfān le nǐ de kāfēi, duìbùqǐ!) I accidentally spilled your coffee; I’m so sorry!
B: 没事,擦一擦就好了。(Méishì, cā yì cā jiù hǎo le.) It’s all right; just wipe it up.
小意思 (Xiǎo yìsi.)
“A small token/gesture.” This is often used when giving a small gift or doing a small favor to downplay it as not being a big deal.
e.g.
A: 这个礼物你特地给我买的吗?(Zhège lǐwù nǐ tèdì gěi wǒ mǎi de ma?) Did you specially buy this gift for me?
B: 小意思,希望你喜欢。(Xiǎo yìsi, xīwàng nǐ xǐhuān.) It’s just a little something; hope you like it.
A: 谢谢你的生日惊喜!(Xièxie nǐ de shēngrì jīngxǐ!) Thank you for the birthday surprise!
B: 小意思,祝你生日快乐。(Xiǎo yìsi, zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè.) It’s just a small gesture; happy birthday!
举手之劳 (Jǔ shǒu zhī láo.)
“The effort of lifting a hand.” It suggests that it took very little effort to help; a polite way to say “It’s no trouble at all.”
e.g.
A: 你又帮我修好了电脑,谢谢!(Nǐ yòu bāng wǒ xiū hǎo le diànnǎo, xièxie!) You fixed my computer again. Thank you!
B: 只是举手之劳,下次再出问题告诉我。(Zhǐshì jǔ shǒu zhī láo, xiàcì zài chū wèntí gàosu wǒ.) It’s just a small effort. Let me know if it acts up again.
A: 你替我值班到这么晚,真的太感谢了。(Nǐ tì wǒ zhíbān dào zhème wǎn, zhēn de tài gǎnxiè le.) Thank you so much for covering my shift so late.
B: 举手之劳,你别放在心上。(Jǔ shǒu zhī láo, nǐ bié fàng zài xīn shàng.) It’s no big deal; don’t worry about it.
Bonus expressions
咱们谁跟谁呀,别客气!(Zánmen shéi gēn shéi ya, bié kèqì!)
“We’re so close; no need to be polite!” This is very casual and friendly, often used among close friends or family to show that formalities aren’t necessary.
e.g.
A: 谢谢你帮我搬家,这么多东西。(Xièxie nǐ bāng wǒ bānjiā, zhème duō dōngxi.) Thank you for helping me move; there’s so much stuff.
B: 咱们谁跟谁呀,别客气!(Zánmen shéi gēn shéi ya, bié kèqì!) We’re so close; no need to thank me!
A: 多谢你帮我找房子,真不好意思麻烦你。(Duōxiè nǐ bāng wǒ zhǎo fángzi, zhēn bù hǎoyìsi máfan nǐ.) Thanks for helping me find a place to live; I feel bad bothering you.
B: 咱们谁跟谁呀,别客气!(Zánmen shéi gēn shéi ya, bié kèqì!) We’re so close; don’t be so formal!
那是我应该做的。(Nà shì wǒ yīnggāi zuò de.)
“That’s what I should do.” It implies that helping you was the speaker’s responsibility or something they’re naturally inclined to do, so no thanks are necessary.
e.g.
A: 感谢你一直照顾我。(Gǎnxiè nǐ yīzhí zhàogù wǒ.) Thank you for always taking care of me.
B: 那是我应该做的。(Nà shì wǒ yīnggāi zuò de.) It’s what I should do.
A: 没想到你还特地跑一趟给我送文件。(Méi xiǎngdào nǐ hái tèdì pǎo yí tàng gěi wǒ sòng wénjiàn.) I didn’t expect you to go out of your way to deliver the documents to me.
B: 那是我应该做的,幸好没耽误你。(Nà shì wǒ yīnggāi zuò de, xìnghǎo méi dānwù nǐ.) It’s what I should do; luckily I didn’t delay you.
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