多謝 / 多谢
do¹ ze⁶
In Cantonese, 'thank you' can be expressed as 多謝 / 多谢 (do¹ ze⁶) or 唔該 / 唔该 depending on the context.
Meaning: an expression of gratitude (intj)
Ways to say it
| Cantonese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 多謝 / 多谢 | do¹ ze⁶ |
| 唔該 / 唔该 | m⁴ goi¹ |
多謝 / 多谢 is a common and standard way to say thank you. 唔該 / 唔该 is used to express gratitude for services or to say 'please' or 'excuse me' when requesting something or getting someone's attention.
What does it mean word for word?
多謝 / 多谢 literally means 'many thanks', where 多 means many/much and 謝 means to thank. 唔該 / 唔该 is a contraction of a phrase meaning 'no need to trouble [me/you]'.
Which one should you use?
Use 多謝 / 多谢 when receiving a gift, money or a formal compliment. Use 唔該 / 唔该 when someone provides a service, such as serving food or helping you carry something.
How do you pronounce it?
do¹ ze⁶
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use 多謝 / 多谢 for small favors like holding a door. In these cases, 唔該 / 唔该 is the natural choice.
Did you know?
- The character 謝 in 多謝 is the same character used in the word for 'apology' in many Chinese contexts, linking gratitude and social correction through the concept of formal acknowledgement.
- When someone says 多謝 / 多谢, a common humble response is 唔使, which literally means 'no need'. This reflects a cultural value of minimizing the effort spent on others.
- If you are in Hong Kong and want to get through a crowded MTR station, you would say 唔該 / 唔该 while moving. It acts as a polite 'push' to let people know you are passing through.
Examples in context
- 唔該晒你幫手。Thanks a lot for lending a hand.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
