You're Welcome in Chinese: How to Respond to "Thanks" in Mandarin Chinese
Last updated: December 23, 2025
"You're welcome" can be as simple as a one-word swap, or as complicated as choosing the right tone, like a graceful social dance of deflection and humility.✅ If you only know one stock phrase when learning Chinese, you’re missing a beautiful spectrum of connections. The perfect "You're welcome" often involves pretending the favor was nothing at all. Let's unpack the art of graceful acceptance.
The standard responses that native speakers use: 不客气, 不用谢, 没事
When someone says (Thank You), you need a reliable, polite way to close the loop. This is your bread and butter, and mastering a few key phrases will cover 90% of daily interactions. The goal here is to acknowledge the thanks while minimizing the favor's importance.
不客气 (bú kè qì) and 不用谢 (bú yòng xiè)
The universal, go-to reply is . is a touch more literal, gently suggesting the thanks themselves are unnecessary.
Think of these two expressions as your simple one-word swap for "You're welcome," as mentioned in the introduction. It's polite, slightly formal, and works in most situations — from a cashier thanking you to a colleague's casual gratitude.
The upside is its flawless appropriateness; the downside is that it can feel a bit transactional or distant with close friends.
-
。
You're welcome. It's just a small favor. -
。
No need to thank me. Next time, be careful when you pour hot water.
没事 (méi shì)
For a slightly more casual and very common response, you have (It's Nothing). is wonderfully breezy, perfect for minor favors where you want to signal "it was truly no trouble."
-
。
It's nothing. This gift didn't cost me at all. -
。
It's nothing. I was planning to wait for the bus anyways.
But here’s a pro tip: tone and delivery are everything. A warm, smiling feels genuinely kind. A mumbled, distracted can seem dismissive. Your demeanor should match the words, showing you’re happy to have helped and that the interaction is now pleasantly concluded.
How to express deflection and shared credit in Chinese Mandarin?
This is where Mandarin Chinese etiquette shines. Often, the most culturally resonant replies actively deflect the thanks away from yourself. This isn't false modesty; it’s a sophisticated way to maintain social harmony and show you don’t consider the other person indebted to you. You’re not just accepting thanks — you’re dissolving the obligation.
A powerful strategy in the Chinese language is to imply that the favor was your duty or pleasure.
-
。
This is what I should do. -
。
Don't be so polite. (This gently chides the person for over-thanking, implying your closeness makes formalities unnecessary.)
The most elegant deflections often involve sharing the credit or minimizing the effort.
-
。
As long as everyone ate well. (If thanked for a group meal, this is the way to say "No need to thank me that much.") -
。
You've also worked hard. (This brilliantly reflects the appreciation back onto your colleagues.)
For close friends and family, the deflection can be even more direct and affectionate. You’re basically refusing to even acknowledge a debt exists within the relationship. This level of reply builds deep rapport because it reinforces the bond itself as the only thing that matters.
-
!
There's no need for thanks between us. (A wonderful phrase that means "we're so close, this formality is silly.")
How to master the context to match your reply to the situation?
Your choice must be calibrated to the social dynamic. A reply that's perfect for a friend might baffle your boss. Let’s break down the nuances.
In formal or hierarchical settings (with a superior, client, or elder), lean toward polite and respectful acceptance. is always safe. You can elevate it with (You are too polite), which adds a layer of deference by using the formal and framing their thanks as an excessive honor. Avoid the extremely casual or (It's a small thing) here, as they might seem flippant.
In casual and peer relationships, you have full access to the casual toolkit. and friendly deflections are all great. With service staff who thank you, a simple or even a nod and smile is perfectly appropriate.
The key is to avoid over-formality with friends, which can create distance, and under-formality with authorities, which can seem disrespectful. Listen to what native speakers use in similar contexts—you’ll notice the seamless shifts.
Let's tackle the tone of saying "You're welcome" in videos!
The good thing about video is that the context, situations, characters' facial expressions, and gestures are clear to see on the screen. Compared to audio and texts, this medium is more accessible and efficient for Chinese learners to get the general idea of how to state "You're welcome" in different settings.
Migaku app can help generate Chinese subtitles even when the video does not feature any. For example, Migaku app can generate subtitles for this cut from The Knockout with the English translation. You can also click the words or sentences to add them to your flashcard collections and review them later.
- Switch on YouTube and search for Chinese videos with the app.
- Click "Watch with Migaku", and the magic wand at the lower right corner to generate Chinese subtitles.
- Click on the new words or sentences in each subtitle and generate flashcards!
FAQs
Next time, you'll know how to translate "You're welcome" like a language pro!
Remember, the core principle is to minimize the social weight of the favor. Whether you use the standard or a simple, warm smile, your aim is to restore equilibrium. It may feel as complicated as like how to express "please" properly, but with the right amount of media input, your brain will gradually internalize the social rules!
If you consume media in Chinese, and you understand at least some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. Period.
If you enjoy the content of this post, here is my in reply!