How to Say Please and Thank You in Mandarin Chinese
Learn 请 (qǐng) and 谢谢 (xièxie) for everyday Mandarin: informal and formal uses, plus natural replies to thanks.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
In Mandarin Chinese, "please" and "thank you" do not work exactly like their English counterparts. The word 请 (qǐng) is used mainly before verbs to make polite requests, and 谢谢 (xièxie) covers most everyday thanks. This lesson teaches only these two expressions: how to form polite requests with 请, how to thank people in casual and formal situations, and how to respond when someone thanks you. You will also learn why Chinese speakers sometimes use 谢谢 less often among close friends, and which replies sound natural instead of translated from English.
By the end, you can…
- use 请 (qǐng) before a verb to make a polite request.
- say 谢谢 (xièxie) in informal and formal situations.
- respond naturally when someone thanks me in Mandarin.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
请进。
Please come in.
qǐng jìn
A common polite invitation when someone knocks or arrives at your door.
请坐。
Please sit down. / Have a seat.
qǐng zuò
Used when welcoming a guest or inviting someone to take a seat.
请稍等。
Please wait a moment.
qǐng shāo děng
Polite and slightly formal; useful in shops, offices, or on the phone.
谢谢！
Thank you! / Thanks!
xièxie
The standard everyday thank-you. The second syllable is usually light and short.
不用谢。
You're welcome. / No need to thank me.
bú yòng xiè
A common, natural reply to 谢谢 in both casual and neutral situations.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The main pattern is 请 (qǐng) + verb. 请 comes before the action, not after it: 请进 (qǐng jìn, please come in), 请坐 (qǐng zuò, please sit), 请喝茶 (qǐng hē chá, please have some tea). For a more formal request, add 您 (nín, the polite form of "you"): 请您稍等 (qǐng nín shāo děng, please wait a moment). 谢谢 (xièxie) can stand alone or follow a sentence: 谢谢，再见 (xièxie, zàijiàn, thank you, goodbye).
When to use it
Use 请 when you are asking someone to do something and want to sound polite: 请坐 (qǐng zuò) to a guest, 请进 (qǐng jìn) at the door, 请问 (qǐng wèn) before a question. Use 谢谢 for most thanks: after receiving help, a gift, or good service. In very close relationships, Chinese speakers may say 谢谢 less often because it can sound distant; a smile or 辛苦了 (xīnkǔ le, you've worked hard) may fit better. In formal settings, 谢谢您 (xièxie nín) is warmer and more respectful.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
请进，请坐。
Please come in, please sit down.qǐng jìn, qǐng zuò谢谢！
Thank you!xièxie请喝茶。
Please have some tea.qǐng hē chá谢谢！不用谢。
Thank you. / You're welcome.xièxie! bú yòng xièA little context goes a long way
In Mandarin, 谢谢 is common with strangers, service staff, colleagues, and acquaintances. Among family or close friends, repeated 谢谢 can feel formal or cold; people often use 辛苦了 (xīnkǔ le) or simply act helpful instead. 请 is not a direct translation of English "please" in every position: it usually comes before a verb, and 请问 (qǐng wèn) is the standard polite opener for questions.
One thing to watch for
Putting 请 at the end of a request, as in 坐请, because English "please" can go at the end.
Try this instead: In Mandarin, 请 normally comes before the verb: 请坐 (qǐng zuò, please sit). For a polite question opener, use 请问 (qǐng wèn), not 问请.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you politely say "Please come in" in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
请进。 (qǐng jìn)
请 comes before the verb 进 (jìn, enter). 请进 is the standard polite invitation at a door.
2A colleague helps you. What is a natural formal thank-you?
Show a sample answer
谢谢您。 (xièxie nín)
谢谢您 adds the polite pronoun 您 (nín), which fits formal or respectful situations. 谢谢 alone is also correct in many workplaces.
3Someone says 谢谢 to you. Give one natural reply.
Show a sample answer
不用谢。 (bú yòng xiè)
不用谢 means "no need to thank me" and is a common, natural reply. 不客气 (bú kèqi) is also correct and very common.
Remember the pattern 请 + verb for polite requests, and use 谢谢 for everyday thanks. Reply with 不用谢 or 不客气, and save 谢谢您 for formal or respectful situations.
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