How to Say "you're welcome" in Chinese
Learn how to say you're welcome in Chinese — 不客气, 没事, and other natural responses to thank you, with cultural context on Chinese hospitality.
Quick Answer
bú kè qi
Tone: 2nd–4th–neutral
The Chinese word for "you're welcome" is 不客气 (bú kè qi).
Quick Answer
“You’re welcome” in Chinese is 不客气 (bú kè qi) — literally “don’t be polite.”
How to Pronounce 不客气
- 不 (bú) — changes to 2nd tone before a 4th tone: rising
- 客 (kè) — 4th tone: sharp falling
- 气 (qi) — neutral tone: short and unstressed
Say it: “boo-KUH-chi” — the middle syllable is the loudest.
Multiple Ways to Say You’re Welcome
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 不客气 | bú kè qi | Don’t be polite / You’re welcome | Most common, any context |
| 没事 | méi shì | It’s nothing / No big deal | Casual |
| 没关系 | méi guān xi | No problem / It doesn’t matter | Any |
| 应该的 | yīng gāi de | It’s what I should do | Warm, humble |
| 小事一桩 | xiǎo shì yī zhuāng | It’s a small thing | Casual, friendly |
| 别客气 | bié kè qi | Don’t stand on ceremony | Encouraging |
When Someone Thanks You Profusely
If someone thanks you repeatedly or emphatically, respond with something warmer:
哪里，这是我应该做的。— Nǎ li, zhè shì wǒ yīng gāi zuò de. — “Not at all, it’s what I should do.”
不用谢，朋友就是这样的嘛。— Bú yòng xiè, péng yǒu jiù shì zhè yàng de ma. — “No need to thank me — that’s what friends are for.”
Examples in Sentences
- A: 谢谢你帮我！B: 不客气，这都是小事。 — “A: Thank you for helping me! B: Don’t mention it, it was nothing.”
- A: 非常感谢。B: 应该的！ — “A: Thank you very much. B: Of course / It’s what I should do!”
- 别客气，你也帮过我很多。 — Bié kè qi, nǐ yě bāng guò wǒ hěn duō. — “Don’t stand on ceremony — you’ve helped me a lot too.”
Cultural Context
In Chinese social dynamics, deflecting thanks is an art form. The more warmly you deflect, the more gracious you appear. When someone thanks you, dismissing it as 小事 (a small thing) or saying 应该的 (it’s what I should do) signals both modesty and strength of character.
Among close friends: saying just 没事 (méi shì — “it’s nothing”) with a wave of the hand is perfectly natural and warm.
In formal settings: 不客气 remains the go-to. Clean, clear, respectful.
Practice
Your friend thanks you for helping them move apartments. What do you say?
哪里，朋友就是这样的嘛！ — “Not at all, that’s what friends are for!”