The standard “thank you” in Chinese is 谢谢 (xièxie). Be polite with 谢谢您 (xièxie nín); go stronger with 非常感谢 (fēicháng gǎnxiè, “thank you very much”). To reply “you’re welcome,” say 不客气 (bú kèqi) or 不用谢 (búyòng xiè).
Free tool
Not sure which level you are? Take the free HSK level test: 24 questions across HSK 1 to 6, with an instant result and an explanation after every answer.
Take the free HSK level testEveryone learns 谢谢 on day one - but knowing only one way to thank someone (and freezing when they thank you) is a giveaway that you’re new. A few well-placed variations make you sound gracious and natural. Here’s the full toolkit, plus the replies that complete the exchange.
The essential: 谢谢 (xièxie)
Stronger & more formal thanks
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 非常感谢 | fēicháng gǎnxiè | Thank you very much |
| 太感谢了 | tài gǎnxiè le | Thank you so much |
| 真的很谢谢你 | zhēn de hěn xièxie nǐ | I really thank you |
| 感谢您的帮助 | gǎnxiè nín de bāngzhù | Thank you for your help |
| 麻烦你了 | máfan nǐ le | Sorry to trouble you (= thanks) |
| 辛苦了 | xīnkǔ le | Thanks for your hard work |
How to reply: “you’re welcome”
Half the exchange is the reply. When someone thanks you, here’s what to say:
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 不客气 | bú kèqi | You’re welcome (most common) |
| 不用谢 | búyòng xiè | No need to thank me |
| 没关系 | méi guānxi | It’s nothing / no problem |
| 没事 | méishì | It’s fine (casual) |
| 小事一桩 | xiǎoshì yì zhuāng | It was a small thing |
Sound gracious, not robotic
- Use 谢谢您 with elders, teachers, customers and officials.
- 辛苦了 is perfect for thanking someone who did work or effort for you - a delivery driver, a colleague.
- Always have a reply ready: 不客气 is your safe default.
- Note the tone change: 不 (bù) becomes bú before the fourth tone in 不客气.
Make these phrases automatic
Hanzijo pairs every phrase with native audio and color-coded tones, so “不客气” comes out with the right tone change every time. A smart SRS schedule and exclusive mnemonics turn polite phrases into reflexes, while lock-screen widgets resurface them throughout your day - from survival phrases to full HSK 1–9 vocabulary.
Learn Chinese Phrases - FreeFrequently asked questions
Is it xièxie or xièxiè?
The second syllable is usually a light, neutral tone in speech, so it’s commonly written xièxie. The first 谢 is a clear fourth tone.
How do you say thank you very much in Chinese?
非常感谢 (fēicháng gǎnxiè) or 太感谢了 (tài gǎnxiè le).
Do Chinese people say thank you a lot?
Among close family and friends, excessive thanking can feel distant - closeness is assumed. With strangers, in service settings and formal situations, 谢谢 is expected and appreciated.
How do you thank someone for their hard work?
Say 辛苦了 (xīnkǔ le) - a warm, very common way to acknowledge someone’s effort.