Chinese Words for "Thank you"

Expressing your gratitude is something that transcends linguistic boundaries. It can help improve your interactions among others, no matter how brief and seemingly inconsequential they may seem at the time. It's nice to acknowledge the work of others that's making the world a better place. While thanks can come in many forms, the words we use a simple but effective way to communicate our appreciation.

Even if you know no other Chinese words and just want to impress a friend, a simple thank you in their language can go a long way. We will give you some key phrases and explanation, along with audio, so that you can show your appreciation to speakers of Mandarin in no time!

Overview

If needed, you can also check out our refresher on Chinese tones.

Standard Thanks

Thank you - (xièxie)谢谢

Literally: thank thank
Sounds like: "she-eh-she-eh"

This is the most common and plain way to express the equivalent of the "thank you" in Mandarin Chinese. This phrase is extremely versatile, and is able to be used both casually and formally. However, this form of thanks is far more common as an interjection, than as a verb.

Example:

• (qǐng)请(bǎ)把(zhège)这个(wénjiàn)文件(dìgěi)递给(jīnglǐ)经理，​(xièxie)谢谢。​
• Please pass this document to the manager, thank you.

Many thanks - (duōxiè)多谢

Literally: many thank
Sounds like: "dwo sheh"

This phrase is very similar to the above, but is a bit more formal. Other than that it's largely interchangeable. It can be used as both an interjection and as a verb.

Example:

• (shōudào)收到(nín)您(de)的(lǐwù)礼物，​(wǒ)我(fēicháng)非常(kāixīn)开心，​(duōxiè)多谢！​
• I am very happy to receive your gift. Thank you so much!

I'm grateful to you - (gǎnxiè)感谢(nǐ)你

Literally: grateful you
Sounds like: "gahn she-eh nee"

This is more polite than the two aforementioned expressions of thanks. Since this phrase is less commonly used as an interjection, it expresses thanks in a more direct and personal way, similar to the English "to be grateful to/for." It is more commonly used as a verb as part of a sentence. 感谢 gǎnxiè on its own can also act as a noun, meaning "gratitude."

Example:

• (wǒ)我(xiǎng)想(duì)对(nǐ)你(shuō)说(gǎnxiè)感谢(nǐ)你(de)的(bāngzhù)帮助(hé)和(zhīchí)支持。​
• I am grateful for your help and support.

Extreme Gratefulness

To express a deeper gratefulness, you can add intensifiers to the phrase of thanks, much like in English we can add "very," "so," or "extremely" before "thankful" or similar expressions.

Thank you very much - (fēicháng)非常(gǎnxiè)感谢

Literally: extremely grateful
Sounds like: "fay chang gahn she-eh"

This is a common phrase conveys a more intense gratitude. You could translate it as "thank you very much" or "I'm very grateful." It consists of (fēicháng)非常 and (gǎnxiè)感谢, meaning extremely and grateful, respectively.

Example:

• (wǒ)我(fēichánggǎnxiè)非常感谢(lǎoshī)老师(de)的(nàixīn)耐心(jiàodǎo)教导。​
• I am very grateful for the teacher's patient instruction.

I'm very grateful - (wǒ)我(fēicháng)非常(gǎnjī)感激

Literally: I extremely appreciative
Sounds like: "wo fay chang gahn ji"

As its literal translation implies, it also expresses a rather deep gratitude and can be translated to "I'm so very appreciative of you."

Thanks a million - (wànfēn)万分(gǎnxiè)感谢

Literally: ten thousand parts grateful
Sounds like: "wan fun gahn she-eh"

This phrase consists of (wànfēn)万分 and (gǎnxiè)感谢, meaning extremely and grateful, respectively. You could translate this phrase to "thanks a million" or "thank you so very much." This is used to give a very heartfelt show of appreciation.

Example:

• (wǒ)我(yào)要(xiàng)向(bāngzhù)帮助(wǒ)我(de)的(péngyou)朋友(men)们(shuō)说(yīshēng)一声(wànfēn)万分(gǎnxiè)感谢。​
• I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the friends who have helped me.

Can't thank (one) enough - (gǎnjī)感激(bújìn)不尽

Literally: appreciative endless(ly)
Sounds like: "gahn jee boo jeen"

This is similar to the others but has the intensifier after the phrase of thanks. It can be translated to "(I) can't thank (you) enough" to express a very high degree of appreciation, especially for help provided by someone or something.

Example:

• (duì)对(tāmen)他们(suǒ)所(zuò)做(de)的(yíqiè)一切，​(wǒmen)我们(zhēnshi)真是(gǎnjī)感激(bújìn)不尽。​
• We feel really beholden to them for everything they've done.

Other

Thank you for your help - (xièxie)谢谢(nǐ)你(de)的(bāngzhù)帮助

Literally: thanks your help
Sounds like: "she-eh she-eh nee duh bang joo"

If you've been on the receiving end of some help, then this is a useful phrase to show your appreciation.

Example:

• (yīnwèi)因为(nǐ)你(de)的(jiànyì)建议(hěn)很(yǒuyòng)有用，​(xièxie)谢谢(nǐ)你(de)的(bāngzhù)帮助
• Because your advice was very helpful, thank you for your assistance.

Thanks for everything - (xièxie)谢谢(nǐ)你(zuò)做(de)的(yíqiè)一切

Literally: thank you do (particle) everything
Sounds like: "she-eh she-eh nee tsuo duh ee chyeh"

If you would like to express your appreciation for a multitude of favors then this phrase will do the trick.

Example:

• (wǒ)我(xiǎng)想(xièxie)谢谢(nǐ)你(zuò)做(de)的(yíqiè)一切，​(nǐ)你(duì)对(wǒ)我(de)的(zhīchí)支持。​
• I wanted to thank you for everything, how you've stood by me.

Though it can be nice to show your appreciation to someone in their native tongue, it's even more potent when you take the time to develop conversational or fluent ability in a language. If you are interested in starting on a journey into the Mandarin Chinese language, we recommend you check out our courses and software to study Mandarin. If it seems like something up your alley, start your free trial today.