Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 不客氣 / 不客气 | bù kèqi |
| 不用謝 / 不用谢 | bùyòngxiè |
| 不謝 / 不谢 | bùxiè |
These phrases are used as a polite reaction to receiving thanks.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 不客氣 / 不客气 literally means "don't be polite" or "no need for politeness". The phrase 不用謝 / 不用谢 literally means "no need to thank".
Which one should you use?
While both are used to say "you're welcome", 不客氣 / 不客气 is the most standard and versatile response. In contrast, 不用謝 / 不用谢 is slightly more direct and focuses specifically on the act of thanking.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The shortened form 不謝 / 不谢 is more casual and is typically used among friends or people of equal status. For other informal variations, you might use 甭客气 (béng kè qì) to say "don't mention it", 没事 (méi shì) to say "it's nothing" or "not a big deal", 别客气了 (bié kè qí le) to tell someone to stop being so polite or 真的不用谢 (zhēn de bú yòng xiè) to emphasize that gratitude is unwarranted.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the phrase 唔使客气 (m̀ sái hák hei) is used to mean "you're welcome" or "my pleasure".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 不客氣 / 不客气, the character 氣 (qi) is often pronounced with a neutral tone in standard Mandarin.
How do you pronounce it?
bù kèqi
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, if someone repeatedly says 不客氣 / 不客气 to you, it may be a sign of 'social dance' where both parties compete to be the most humble.
- The character 氣 (qì) in 不客氣 (bù kè qi) refers to 'spirit' or 'air', but in this specific context, it refers to the 'manner' or 'politeness' one displays.
- The word 客氣 (kèqi) can be used as an adjective to describe someone who is being 'too polite' in a way that feels cold or distant.
Examples in context
- 不客气，很愿意帮忙 (bù kè qì, hěn yuànyì bāngmáng)My pleasure, happy to help.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my pleasure” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
