Expressing gratitude is an important part of any culture, as it helps build relationships and fosters a sense of community. In Chinese, there are many different ways to say thank you, each with its own unique connotations. Here are some of the most common expressions to say “thank you” in Chinese.
A summary of the expressions are available with Pinyin annotation at the end of the article.
謝謝 (ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄒㄧㄝˋ) — Thank you
This is the most common and basic way to say thank you in Chinese. It can be used in almost any situation, formal or informal.
多謝 (ㄉㄨㄛ ㄒㄧㄝˋ) — Thank you very much
This expression is more emphatic than 謝謝, conveying a stronger sense of gratitude. You can use this expression to express your appreciation for someone who did something that made a significant impact on your life.
太謝謝你了 (ㄊㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄋㄧˇ ㄌㄜ˙) — Thank you so much
This expression is used to convey a sense of overwhelming gratitude. You can use this expression to show your appreciation for someone who went above and beyond to help you.
感謝 (ㄍㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄝˋ) — Many thanks
This expression is a bit more formal than 謝謝 and is often used in written documents or formal speeches. You can use this expression to show your appreciation for someone who did something that was particularly meaningful to you.
感恩 (ㄍㄢˇ ㄣ) — Grateful
This expression conveys a sense of deep gratitude and is often used in religious or spiritual contexts. You can use this expression to show your appreciation for someone who has helped you in a way that goes beyond material goods or services.
哪裡哪裡 (ㄋㄚˇ ㄌㄧˇ ㄋㄚˇ ㄌㄧˇ) — You’re flattering me
哪裡 actually means “where”. The expression therefore translates “where, where”. This expression is used to downplay compliments or expressions of gratitude. It’s a polite way of saying “it was nothing” or “It is nothing worthy mentioning.”
麻煩你了 (ㄇㄚˊ ㄈㄢˊ ㄋㄧˇ ㄌㄜ˙) — Sorry for the trouble
This expression is used to thank someone for going out of their way to help you. It’s often used in situations where the other person has done something that required extra effort or inconvenience. You can use this expression to show your appreciation for someone who has helped you in a significant way.
不不 (ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ) — No, no
This expression is used to politely decline a compliment or expression of gratitude. It’s a way of saying “it was nothing” without sounding dismissive.
謝謝你的… (ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄋㄧˇ ㄉㄜ˙ …) — Thank you for your…
This expression is used to specifically thank someone for a particular action or gift. For example, 謝謝你的禮物 (ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄋㄧˇ ㄉㄜ˙ ㄌㄧˇ ㄨˋ) means “thank you for your gift.” You can use this expression to show your appreciation for something specific that someone has done for you.
Summary
| Chinese | Bopomofo | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 謝謝 | ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄒㄧㄝˋ | xiè xiè | Thank you |
| 多謝 | ㄉㄨㄛ ㄒㄧㄝˋ | duō xiè | Thank you very much |
| 太謝謝你了 | ㄊㄞˋ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄋㄧˇ ㄌㄜ˙ | tài xiè xiè nǐ le | Thank you so much |
| 感謝 | ㄍㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄝˋ | gǎn xiè | Many thanks |
| 感恩 | ㄍㄢˇ ㄣ | gǎn ēn | Grateful |
| 哪裡哪裡 | ㄋㄚˇ ㄌㄧˇ ㄋㄚˇ ㄌㄧˇ | nǎ li nǎ li | You’re flattering me |
| 麻煩你了 | ㄇㄚˊ ㄈㄢˊ ㄋㄧˇ ㄌㄜ˙ | má fan nǐ le | Sorry for the trouble |
| 不不 | ㄅㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ | bù bù | No, no |
| 謝謝你的… | xiè xiè nǐ de… | Thank you for your… |
The next time someone does something kind for you, remember to say “thank you” in Chinese and use one of these expressions to show your appreciation. You’ll be amazed at how much it can brighten someone’s day and strengthen your relationships with others.
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