Chinese phrases
How to say calm down in Chinese
Calm down in Chinese is 冷静一下 (lěng jìng yí xià), “calm down a moment.” To soothe someone who is angry, say 消消气 (xiāo xiao qì) or 别生气 (bié shēng qì).
冷静一下
calm down
冷静 is literally “cold and still.” It also works about yourself: 我需要冷静一下, “I need a moment to calm down.”
Ways to say calm down
冷静一下
Everydaycalm down a moment
When someone is upset and about to act too fast: send an angry message, quit a job, shout at a waiter.
冷静点
With friendscalm down!
Short and firm, in a heated moment. Often 你冷静点. With friends and family only, because it sounds like an order.
别激动
Everydaydon’t get worked up
When someone raises their voice, or gets too excited about good news.
别生气
Everydaydon’t be angry
To someone who is angry, often at you. Add 了 to sound softer: 别生气了.
消消气
Everydaylet it go; cool off
Warm and soothing, to someone who is angry, even with you. Good with older people: 您消消气.
别着急
Everydayrelax; take your time
When someone is anxious or in a hurry: lost keys, a late train, a form they cannot fill in.
淡定
With friendsstay cool
Casual and a little joking, with friends and in chats. People often say it twice: 淡定，淡定.
Common mistakes
Mixing up 冷静 and 安静
安静 means quiet. 安静点 means “be quiet,” and 冷静点 means “calm down.” Say the wrong one in a fight and you make it worse.
Saying 冷静点 to someone older
冷静点 sounds like an order, so it can anger a boss, a client or an older relative more. Say 您别生气 or 您消消气 instead.
Thinking 激动 only means angry
激动 means stirred up, by anger or by joy. 我好激动 means “I’m so excited.” So 别激动 to a happy friend means “easy, don’t get carried away.”
The wrong delivery
外卖又送错了！我要投诉！
Leon: They brought the wrong delivery again! I’m going to complain!
冷静一下，先给骑手打个电话。
Qiqi: Calm down. Call the rider first.
我已经等了一个小时了！
Leon: I’ve already waited an hour!
好了好了，消消气。我给你煮碗面。
Qiqi: OK, OK, let it go. I’ll cook you some noodles.
