How to Say Thank You in Chinese: 谢谢 (xièxie) and How to Reply
Thank you in Chinese is 谢谢 (xièxie). Hear it, learn stronger and more formal ways to say thanks, and how to answer with 不客气 (you're welcome).
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To say thank you in Chinese, say 谢谢 (xièxie). It is the everyday way to thank anyone: a friend, a waiter, a stranger who holds the door.
How to pronounce 谢谢#
The first 谢 xiè has a strong falling fourth tone. The second is a light neutral tone: short and relaxed, so you say XIÈ-xie, not two equal syllables. The x sounds close to the "sh" in she, with your lips spread.
If the falling tone is new to you, listen to it in the guide to Chinese tones, then come back and repeat 谢谢 a few times out loud.
Ways to say thank you in Chinese#
我想谢谢今天帮我的朋友。
I want to thank the friend who helped me today.
- 谢谢你 / 谢谢您 thank one person directly; 您 is the polite "you".
- 多谢 duōxiè is a short, friendly "thanks a lot".
- 太谢谢你了 tài xièxie nǐ le means "thank you so much" and shows real gratitude.
- 感谢 gǎnxiè is more formal: you will see it in emails, signs and speeches.
感谢你帮我搬箱子。
Thank you for helping me move the boxes.
How to reply to thank you#
The natural answer is 不客气 bú kèqi, "you're welcome". 不 changes to a rising tone before a fourth tone, so you hear bú kèqi rather than bù kèqi.
我说“谢谢”，店员说“不客气”。
I say, “Thank you,” and the shop assistant says, “You’re welcome.”
Two other common replies are 不用谢 búyòng xiè (no need to thank me) and 没事 méishì (no problem).
Next phrases to learn#
Thank you usually comes right after a greeting and right before a goodbye. Learn how to say hello in Chinese and how to say goodbye in Chinese, or explore more basic Chinese words.
Quick check
Frequently asked questions
How do you say thank you in Chinese?
Say 谢谢 (xièxie). The first syllable has a falling fourth tone and the second is light and short. Add 你 (nǐ) or the polite 您 (nín) to thank someone directly.
How do you reply to thank you in Chinese?
The usual reply is 不客气 (bú kèqi), "you're welcome". 不用谢 (búyòng xiè, no need to thank me) and 没事 (méishì, no problem) are common too.
What is the most polite way to say thank you in Chinese?
非常感谢 (fēicháng gǎnxiè) means "thank you very much" and suits emails, speeches and formal situations. With friends, 太谢谢你了 (tài xièxie nǐ le) sounds warm and natural.
