Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 沒關係 / 没关系 | méiguānxi |
| 沒事 / 没事 | méishì |
These phrases are used to express that something does not bother you.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 沒關係 / 没关系 (méiguānxi) literally means "no relation" or "no connection", which implies that the matter at hand has no consequence or connection to one's well-being.
Which one should you use?
沒關係 / 没关系 is typically used as a response to an apology to mean "it's okay, don't worry about it", focusing on the fact that no offense was taken. In contrast, 沒事 / 没事 is more often used to mean "I am fine" or "nothing is wrong", reassuring someone that you are not injured or that a situation is not serious.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can add the particle 了 (le) to the end of the phrase to form 沒關係了 / 没关系了, which changes the nuance to "it doesn't matter anymore", often implying a change in state or a slightly more dismissive tone.
How do you pronounce it?
méiguānxi
Did you know?
- The word 關係 in 沒關係 also means 'relationship' or 'connection', and in a business context, having 關係 is the essential social capital needed to get things done in China.
- In Cantonese, a person might use different structures to express 'no worries' that do not rely on the 'relation' concept used in Mandarin.
- While 沒關係 can mean 'no worries', it can also literally mean 'no relationship' or 'we are not related' in a family context.
Examples in context
- 别担心，你肯定会做得很好Don't worry, you will definitely do well.
- 没有问题，我们还有很多时间No worries, we still have plenty of time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no worries” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
