Chinese phrases
How to say don’t worry in Chinese
Don’t worry in Chinese is 别担心 (bié dān xīn). To promise that things will be fine, or that you’ll take care of it, say 放心 (fàng xīn).
别担心
don’t worry
别 is the spoken short form of 不要, so 不要担心 means the same thing.
Ways to say don’t worry
别担心
Everydaydon’t worry
When someone is worried about something real: an exam, a late train, a test result.
不用担心
Formalthere’s no need to worry
Calmer and a little more polite. Staff and doctors say it to you: 您不用担心.
放心
Everydayrest assured; leave it to me
A promise: trust me, it will be fine, or I’ll take care of it. People often say 放心吧 or 你放心.
没事
With friendsit’s fine; no harm done
When nothing bad happened, or it was small: someone spills your tea, or worries that they upset you.
别着急
Everydaydon’t rush; take your time
When someone is anxious or in a hurry: a friend who can’t find their keys, or who thinks they’ll miss the train.
别怕
Everydaydon’t be scared
To a child, or to anyone who is afraid: of a dog, a needle, the dark.
Common mistakes
Saying 别担心 for “don’t worry about it”
In English, “don’t worry about it” answers a thank-you or a small apology. In Chinese, 别担心 is only for real worries. After a thank-you, say 不客气 or 没事. After an apology, say 没事 or 没关系.
Saying zhe in 着急
You may know 着 as the light zhe in 看着. In 着急 it is zháo, with a rising tone: bié zháo jí.
The night before an exam
明天考试，我好紧张。
Qiqi: The exam is tomorrow. I’m so nervous.
别担心，你准备得很好。
Leon: Don’t worry, you’ve prepared well.
万一考不好怎么办？
Qiqi: What if I do badly?
放心吧，没问题的。
Leon: Trust me, you’ll be fine.
