Chinese phrases
How to say thank you in Chinese
Thank you in Chinese is 谢谢 (xiè xie). It works with anyone, anywhere.
谢谢
thank you
The second 谢 is light and short: xiè xie, not xiè xiè.
Ways to say thank you
谢谢
Everydaythank you
To a waiter, a driver, a shop assistant, a friend. Always right.
谢谢你
Everydaythank you (to you)
Warmer and more personal: you thank this person for something they did.
谢谢您
Formalthank you (polite)
To a teacher, an older person or a customer.
太感谢了
Everydaythank you so much
For a real favour: someone found your phone or helped you move.
辛苦了
Everydaythanks for all your work
To someone who worked for you: a delivery rider, a colleague after a long day. It thanks the effort.
谢啦
With friendsthanks!
Light and casual, with friends and in chats.
多谢
Textingmany thanks
Short and friendly. Common in messages and in southern China.
感谢
Writtenthanks; to thank (formal)
In emails, notices and speeches, as in 感谢您的支持, “thank you for your support.”
How to answer 谢谢
不客气
you’re welcome
The textbook answer. Fine everywhere.
不用谢
no need to thank me
Friendly and very common.
没事
no problem
The everyday answer between friends and colleagues.
应该的
it was the least I could do
Modest. Staff, or anyone who helped because they felt they should.
Common mistakes
Thanking family for everything
Between family and close friends, a 谢谢 for every small thing can sound distant, as if you were strangers. Many people say nothing, or 辛苦了 after a big effort.
A full tone on the second 谢
谢谢 is xiè xie. The second syllable is short and light.
Only knowing 谢谢 for compliments
Today 谢谢 is a fine answer to praise. A modest 哪里哪里 or 没有没有 still sounds warm, especially with older people.
At a café
您的咖啡。
Waiter: Your coffee.
谢谢！
Leon: Thank you!
不客气。
Waiter: You’re welcome.
