How to say thank you in Chinese
"Thank you" in Chinese is 谢谢 (xiè xie). 谢谢 fits nearly every situation; between close friends and family, constant thanks can feel distant, so people often say a quick 谢了 or show thanks by doing something back.
Ways to say thank you
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 谢谢 | xiè xie | thank you | The default answer. |
| 谢了 | xiè le | thanks | Very casual, between friends for small favors |
| 多谢 | duō xiè | many thanks | Friendly and warm, in speech and messages, a little more emphatic than 谢谢 |
| 谢谢你 | xiè xie nǐ | thank you | When you thank one person directly and want it to sound personal |
| 太谢谢你了 | tài xiè xie nǐ le | thank you so much | When someone really helped you out; warm and heartfelt |
| 非常感谢 | fēi cháng gǎn xiè | thank you very much | Formal: emails, work, thanking someone you do not know well |
| 感谢大家 | gǎn xiè dà jiā | thank you, everyone | Speeches, announcements and thanking a whole group publicly |
What people say back
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 不客气 | bù kè qi | you're welcome |
| 不用谢 | bù yòng xiè | no need to thank me |
| 没事 | méi shì | no problem |
| 别客气 | bié kè qi | don't mention it |
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 谢谢你的礼物，我很喜欢。 | xiè xie nǐ de lǐ wù, wǒ hěn xǐ huan. | Thank you for the present, I love it. |
| 太谢谢你了，没有你我真不知道怎么办。 | tài xiè xie nǐ le, méi yǒu nǐ wǒ zhēn bù zhī dào zěn me bàn. | Thank you so much, I really don't know what I'd have done without you. |
| 师傅，到了，谢谢！ | shī fu, dào le, xiè xie! | This is it, driver, thanks! |
| 非常感谢大家今天来参加我们的婚礼。 | fēi cháng gǎn xiè dà jiā jīn tiān lái cān jiā wǒ men de hūn lǐ. | Thank you all so much for coming to our wedding today. |
The characters in 谢谢
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning here |
|---|---|---|
| 谢 | xiè | to thank |
Common mistakes
- The second 谢 is neutral tone: xiè xie, not xiè xiè. Stressing both syllables sounds stiff.
- Do not answer 谢谢 with 谢谢. The reply is 不客气 (bù kè qi) or 不用谢 (bù yòng xiè).
- Close friends and family say 谢谢 to each other much less than English speakers say thanks. Thanking a close friend formally for every small thing can sound like you are keeping your distance.
- 感谢 on its own is more formal and written; in everyday speech say 谢谢.
Related
- Polite phrases in Chinese: 不客气
- Welcome in Chinese: 欢迎
- Sorry in Chinese: 对不起
- Please in Chinese: 请
- All phrases and words
Frequently asked questions
How do you say thank you in Chinese?
谢谢 (xiè xie). Other ways: 谢了 (xiè le); 多谢 (duō xiè); 谢谢你 (xiè xie nǐ).
What does xie xie mean?
谢谢 (xiè xie) means "thank you". It is the everyday way to thank anyone in Mandarin.
How do you say thank you very much in Chinese?
Say 太谢谢你了 (tài xiè xie nǐ le) in speech, or 非常感谢 (fēi cháng gǎn xiè) when you want to be more formal.
How do you reply to thank you in Chinese?
The standard reply is 不客气 (bù kè qi), "you're welcome". 不用谢 (bù yòng xiè) and 没事 (méi shì) are also very common.
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