How to Say You're Welcome in Chinese Like a Native
November 22, 2021
China is a complex culture where politeness plays a big role in communication. This means that whenever someone says "Thank You", we're expected to politely respond with a "Bù kèqì" or any other ways to say "you're welcome" in Chinese.
Since there are many ways to respond to "Thank you" in Chinese that will make you sound more native, this article will cover eight of the most common ways to say "You're Welcome" in Mandarin Chinese.
1. 不客气 Bù kèqì
2. 不用谢 Bùyòng xiè
3. 没事儿 Méi shìer
4. 小意思 Xiǎoyìsi
5. 不麻烦 Bù máfan
6. 应该的 Yīnggāi de
7. 不会 Bù huì
8. 客气啦 Kèqì la
1. 不客气 Bù kèqì
Meaning: Don't be polite
The most obvious, most classic response! Older generations consider this the most gracious response to "thank you". It is also the most neutral and appropriate for all situations, so if you want to err on the side of caution, this is the phrase to use. You may also hear similar variations, such as 不用客气 bùyòng kèqì and 别客气 bié kèqì.
You: Thank you for helping me clean up!
Ayi: 哎呀，不客气！
2. 不用谢 Bùyòng xiè
Meaning: No need for thanks
This a casual way to reply to "thank you". Despite literally saying right in the phrase "there is no need to thank me", we recommend you still always say "thank you." Our mommas raised us right!
You: Excuse me, where is the restroom?
Waiter: Right here.
You: Thank you!
Waiter: 不用谢。
3. 没事儿 Méi shìer
Meaning: No problem
At the risk of sounding terse and short, we recommend saving this one for friends or people you are close with. You will also hear this phrase used in many contexts besides "you're welcome", so keep an ear out.
You: Thanks for giving me a ride!
Friend: 没事儿。
4. 小意思 Xiǎoyìsi
Meaning: No sweat
Similar to 没事儿, 小意思 is a way of saying that what you're being thanked for didn't require much effort, a piece of cake. Using 小意思 to say "you're welcome" in Chinese is equivalent to saying "it's nothing", "no sweat", "it's no big deal" in English. In some situations, 小意思 can also mean "a small gift" or a "small token".
You: Thanks for giving me a ride!
Friend: 小意思。
5. 不麻烦 Bù máfan
Meaning: No bother at all, no trouble at all
We've mentioned in our article on how to say "thank you" in Chinese that “麻烦你了” is a common a way to show appreciation when someone does you favor. If you thank your friend for a favor with a “麻烦你了”， they might deflect by saying “不麻烦”
You: Could you help me pick up a package?
Friend: Sure！
You: 麻烦你了
Friend: 不麻烦。
6. 应该的 Yīnggāi de
Meaning: It's my duty
This is more situationally specific and is generally used when someone thanks you for fulfilling an obligation.
Boss: Thank you for submitting those forms so quickly.
You: 应该的。
7. 不会 Bù huì
Meaning: Don't
Though you occasionally will hear it in the Mainland, this response is popular in Taiwan. Supposedly, 不会 originates from the Taiwanese Min dialect.
Coworker: Thanks for holding the door.
You: 不会。
8. 客气啦 Kèqì la
Meaning: You're too kind
Friend: Thanks for giving me a ride.
You: 客气啦！
This phrase also includes the word "kèqì", but is much less formal than "bù kèqì". It carries a flirty, cutesy connotation, so it is better to use 客气啦 to say "you're welcome" in Chinese in informal situations.
Do you know other ways to say you’re welcome in Chinese?
Want to learn more? Click here for more useful Chinese phrases!
About the Author
Eden has been learning Chinese since 2008. She fell in love with the language, food, and culture and never looked back! Eden lived in China for six years, including in Harbin, Beijing, and Dali.
