How to say “You're welcome” in Chinese
“You're welcome” in Chinese is 不客气。, written in pinyin as Bú kèqi.
不客气。
Bú kèqi.
You're welcome.
Word by word
What each part of 不客气。 actually means.
- 不bùnot
- 客气kèqipolite / formal
When you use it
- The standard answer to 谢谢. Say it whenever someone thanks you for something you did.
- It also means 'don't stand on ceremony' when you are urging someone to help themselves.
Use 不客气。 in everyday situations. Greetings, thanks and the small words you use all day.
Other ways people say it
The same idea, said differently. Roughly in the order you'll hear them.
不用谢。
Bú yòng xiè
No need to thank me.
Soft and very common — the everyday default.
没事儿。
Méi shìr
It's nothing.
Casual. Good among friends and younger people.
不客气，应该的。
Bú kèqi, yīnggāi de
You're welcome — it's what anyone would do.
The fuller formula after somebody thanks you for real help: it says the help was ordinary, not a favour owed.
What usually trips people up
- The most useful thing to know: many people in China answer 谢谢 with no words at all, or with a small gesture or nod. Silence here is not rudeness.
- Do not answer thanks with 哪里哪里 (nǎlǐ nǎlǐ). That is a modest reply to a compliment — using it after 谢谢 would be answering the wrong kind of remark.
- 不客气 answers thanks, not apologies. When someone says 对不起, the reply is 没关系 — answering with 不客气 there sounds like you accepted an apology you were never owed.
What you might hear back
- 谢谢！Xièxie!Thank you!
- 你人真好。Nǐ rén zhēn hǎoYou're really kind.
- 太感谢了。Tài gǎnxiè leThank you so much.
Common questions
- How do you say "You're welcome" in Chinese?
- "You're welcome" in Chinese is 不客气。 — written in pinyin as Bú kèqi. It is an everyday phrase you would use in China.
- What does 不客气。 mean in Chinese?
- 不客气。 (Bú kèqi) means "You're welcome". Broken down word by word: 不 (bù) means "not"; 客气 (kèqi) means "polite / formal".
- When would you use "You're welcome" in Chinese?
- The standard answer to 谢谢. Say it whenever someone thanks you for something you did. It also means 'don't stand on ceremony' when you are urging someone to help themselves.
More Everyday phrases
Learn all 34 Everyday phrases
Start learning