Various ways to Refuse in Chinese

The common expressions

不用了 (búyòng le)

No need.

When someone offers help, an object, or a service and you want to politely turn it down.

e.g.

A：你用我的车吧。(Nǐ yòng wǒ de chē ba.) You can use my car.
B：不用了，太麻烦你了。(Bùyòngle, tài máfan nǐ le.) No, it’s too much trouble for you.

A: 我帮你拿包吧。(Wǒ bāng nǐ ná bāo ba.) Let me carry your bag.
B: 不用了，我自己拿就行。(Bù yòng le, wǒ zìjǐ ná jiù xíng.) No need; I can carry it myself.

不要，谢谢。(Búyào, xièxie.)

No, thanks.

When someone offers you something (e.g., an item, food, or suggestion) and you don’t want it or aren’t interested. The 谢谢 softens the refusal, so it doesn’t come off as too blunt.

e.g.

A: 想试试这个新品饮料吗？(Xiǎng shìshi zhège xīnpǐn yǐnliào ma?) Would you like to try this new drink?
B: 不要，谢谢，我对饮料没兴趣。(Bú yào, xièxie, wǒ duì yǐnliào méi xìngqù.) No, thanks; I’m not interested in drinks.

A: 这款护肤品现在有折扣哦，要不要看看？(Zhè kuǎn hùfūpǐn xiànzài yǒu zhékòu o, yào bùyào kànkan?) We have a discount on this skincare product. Want to check it out?
B: 不要，谢谢。(Búyào, xièxie.) No, thanks.

The extended phrases to refuse in Chinese

1. Refusing an invitation

Sometimes, it’s difficult to guess whether an invitation is real or merely a polite offer. In this case, a simple polite refusal can be used to judge the persons’ true intentions.

改天吧 (gǎi tiān ba)

Maybe another day.

e.g.

A：去我家坐坐吧！(Qù wǒjiā zuòzuò ba!) Go to my house and have a seat!
B：改天吧。(Gǎitiān ba.) Maybe another day.

下次吧 (xià cì ba)

Maybe next time.

e.g.

A: 明天来我家吃饭吗？(Míngtiān lái wǒ jiā chīfàn ma?) Want to come over for dinner tomorrow?
B: 下次吧，这几天我有事。(Xià cì ba, zhè jǐ tiān wǒ yǒu shì.) Maybe next time; I’m busy these days.

以后/回头再说 (yǐhòu /huítóu zài shuō)

Let’s talk about it later.

e.g.

A: 我们下个月去旅行怎么样？(Wǒmen xià gè yuè qù lǚxíng zěnmeyàng?) How about traveling next month?
B: 回头再说吧，我现在不好确定。(Huítóu zài shuō ba, wǒ xiànzài bù hǎo quèdìng.) Let’s talk about it later; I can’t be sure right now.

Of course, if they respond and confirm that their invitation was serious, accepting is the most appropriate way to respond.

2. Refusing an offer

Chinese people tend to decline gifts or favors multiple times before finally accepting them. This is a polite way to show modesty because it shows that you don’t want to trouble others.

不必了 (búbì le)

It’s not necessary.

e.g.

A: 要不要我先给你垫钱？(Yào bùyào wǒ xiān gěi nǐ diàn qián?) Do you want me to pay for you first?
B: 不必了，谢谢，我带了现金。(Bú bì le, xièxie, wǒ dài le xiànjīn.) No need, thanks; I have cash with me.

太麻烦你了 (tài máfán nǐ le)

It’s too much of a bother.

e.g.

A: 我可以陪你去医院吗？(Wǒ kěyǐ péi nǐ qù yīyuàn ma?) Can I accompany you to the hospital?
B: 太麻烦你了，我自己能行。(Tài máfan nǐ le, wǒ zìjǐ néng xíng.) It’s too much trouble for you; I can manage on my own.

别忙了 (biémáng le)

Please don’t bother.

e.g.

A: 我给你准备点水果好吗？(Wǒ gěi nǐ zhǔnbèi diǎn shuǐguǒ hǎo ma?) Shall I get you some fruit?
B: 别忙了，我很快就要走。(Bié máng le, wǒ hěn kuài jiù yào zǒu.) Please don’t bother; I’ll be leaving soon.

This initial refusal before final acceptance also happens often when people offer food or drink, especially when it is offered by someone they don’t know well.  That’s why when Chinese people offer you something to eat or drink, and encourage you to “eat more,” if you really want to say no, you can use the phrases:

我现在不想吃。(Wǒ xiànzài bù xiǎng chī.)

I don’t feel like eating right now.

e.g.

A: 你要不要先吃点午饭？(Nǐ yàobùyào xiān chī diǎn wǔfàn?) Do you want to eat lunch first?
B: 我现在不想吃，等我忙完再说。(Wǒ xiànzài bù xiǎng chī, děng wǒ máng wán zài shuō.) I don’t feel like eating right now. Let’s wait until I finish my work.

谢谢，待会儿吧。(Xièxie, dāi huìr ba.)

Thank you, maybe later.

e.g.

A: 喝点咖啡吗？(Hē diǎn kāfēi ma?) Want some coffee?
B: 谢谢，待会儿吧，我刚喝过茶。(Xièxie, dāi huìr ba, wǒ gāng hē guò chá.) Thanks, maybe later. I just had tea.

3. Refusing unsolicited suggestions

When talking to someone you know, on the other hand, it’s more common, and polite, to make an excuse or say you’ll get back to them later. For example:

我考虑考虑 (Wǒ kǎolǜ kǎolǜ.)

I’ll think it over.

e.g.

A: 现在办理会员有优惠哦！(Xiànzài bànlǐ huìyuán yǒu yōuhuì o!) There’s a discount if you sign up for membership now!
B: 我考虑考虑，再决定吧。(Wǒ kǎolǜ kǎolǜ, zài juédìng ba.) I’ll think it over and then decide.

我想想吧 (Wǒ xiǎngxiǎng ba.)

I’ll think about it.

e.g.

A: 我觉得你应该换台新电脑。(Wǒ juéde nǐ yīnggāi huàn tái xīn diànnǎo.) I think you should buy a new computer.
B: 我想想吧，现在还不确定。(Wǒ xiǎngxiǎng ba, xiànzài hái bù quèdìng.) I’ll think about it; I’m not sure yet.

4. Refusing a request

If someone is asking you for information or advice and you don’t feel comfortable doing so, you can try to redirect the conversation by switching the topic, putting it off, or dodging the question. You might say:

我不太清楚。 (Wǒ bú tài qīngchǔ.)

I am not really sure.

e.g.

A: 你能告诉我公司财务信息吗？(Nǐ néng gàosù wǒ gōngsī cáiwù xìnxī ma?) Could you share the company’s financial info with me?
B: 我不太清楚，你最好去问财务部。(Wǒ bú tài qīngchǔ, nǐ zuìhǎo qù wèn cáiwù bù.) I’m not really sure; you’d better ask the Finance Department.

这样不好吧。(zhèyàng bùhǎo ba)

This might not work.

e.g.

A: 我想直接拿别人的方案用一下，你觉得呢？(Wǒ xiǎng zhíjiē ná biérén de fāng’àn yòng yíxià, nǐ juéde ne?) I plan to use someone else’s proposal directly. What do you think?
B: 这样不好吧，还是自己做比较妥当。(Zhèyàng bùhǎo ba, háishì zìjǐ zuò bǐjiào tuǒdàng.) That might not be good; it’s safer to create our own.

可能不太方便。(kěnéng bútài fāngbiàn)

It might be too inconvenient.

e.g.

A：你告诉我老板的想法，好吗？
(Nǐ gàosù wǒ lǎobǎn de xiǎngfǎ, hǎo ma?) Can you tell me what the boss thinks?
B：可能不太方便。(kěnéng bútài fāngbiàn) It might be too inconvenient.

Bonus phrases!

When someone gives you an unreasonable request or suggestion, and you want to decline directly, you can say:

不可能 (bùkěnéng)

Impossible！

e.g.

A: 这份工作明天就能完成吧？(Zhè fèn gōngzuò míngtiān jiù néng wánchéng ba?) Can you finish this job by tomorrow?
B: 不可能，时间完全来不及。(Bù kěnéng, shíjiān wánquán láibují.) Impossible, there’s not enough time at all.

想得美 (xiǎngdeměi)

You wish!

e.g.

A: 你能借我你的车一个月吗？(Nǐ néng jiè wǒ nǐ de chē yīgè yuè ma?) Can you lend me your car for a month?
B: 想得美，我自己天天要用。(Xiǎng de měi, wǒ zìjǐ tiāntiān yào yòng.) You wish! I need it every day myself.

没门儿 (méiménr)

No way!

e.g.

A: 我能搬去你家住一阵子吗？(Wǒ néng bān qù nǐ jiā zhù yízhènzi ma?) Can I move in with you for a while?
B: 没门儿，我连自己房间都不够。(Méi ménr, wǒ lián zìjǐ fángjiān dōu bú gòu.) No way! I don’t even have enough space for myself.

休想 (xiūxiǎng)

Never, not a chance!

e.g.

A: 能让你替我写报告吗？(Néng ràng nǐ tì wǒ xiě bàogào ma?) Can you write the report for me?
B: 休想，这是你的工作。(Xiūxiǎng, zhè shì nǐ de gōngzuò.) Not a chance! That’s your job.

Theses refusals are very straightforward and blunt, be careful about who you say them to.

想得美 is a little sarcastic, and 休想 is very firm and resolute, and it might sound like you’re quite annoyed.