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).
Everyone 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.