Chinese phrases

How to say just kidding in Chinese

Just kidding in Chinese is 开玩笑的 (kāi wán xiào de), “it was a joke.” With friends you can also say 逗你的 (dòu nǐ de), “just teasing you.”

开玩笑的

kāi wán xiào de

just kidding

Ways to say just kidding

开玩笑的
kāi wán xiào de
Everyday
just kidding
After a joke that someone took seriously. Add 我 in front for “I was joking.”
开个玩笑
kāi gè wán xiào
Everyday
just a joke
Right before or after a light joke, to make it clear that you are joking: 开个玩笑，别生气.
逗你的
dòu nǐ de
With friends
just teasing you
Playful, when you teased someone on purpose.
骗你的
piàn nǐ de
With friends
gotcha; I made that up
You said something untrue to see the reaction. 骗 means “to fool,” but here it is light and friendly.
别当真
bié dàng zhēn
Everyday
don’t take it seriously
When you worry that a joke or a comment went too far.

你开玩笑吧
nǐ kāi wán xiào ba
you’re kidding, right?
You hope or suspect that the other person is joking.
我是认真的
wǒ shì rèn zhēn de
I’m serious
You mean what you said.
说真的
shuō zhēn de
seriously, though
Moves the conversation from jokes back to a real point.

Saying 我开玩笑你
开玩笑 already has its object, 玩笑. To joke with someone, say 跟你开玩笑. To make fun of someone, say 开你的玩笑.
Using 笑话 for kidding
笑话 is a joke that you tell. As a verb, it means to laugh at someone. 我是笑话 sounds like “I am a joke.” For “I was kidding,” say 我开玩笑的.

我明天不来上班了。
wǒ míng tiān bù lái shàng bān le
Liangliang: I’m not coming to work tomorrow.
真的吗？为什么？
zhēn de ma? wèi shén me
Qiqi: Really? Why?
开玩笑的！明天是周六。
kāi wán xiào de! míng tiān shì zhōu liù
Liangliang: Just kidding! Tomorrow is Saturday.
吓我一跳！
xià wǒ yí tiào
Qiqi: You scared me!

In the dictionary: 开玩笑 · 玩笑 · 逗 · 骗 · 当真