Please and Thank You in Chinese: Polite Phrases + Audio
Learn to thank someone, make a polite request and say you’re welcome in Mandarin. Includes recordings, pronunciation hints and a short practice dialogue.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr LearnYour first Chinese phrases
Listen to a phrase, then try saying it aloud. The full conversation is below.
谢谢您。
Thank you. (polite)
Xièxie nín.麻烦您。
Sorry to trouble you. / Please. (polite)
Máfan nín.不客气。
You're welcome.
Bú kèqi.
In Mandarin Chinese, politeness is often conveyed through word choice and context rather than elaborate phrasing. The two most common expressions for please and thank you are 谢谢 (xièxie) and 麻烦您 (máfan nín). This lesson will teach you how to use them appropriately in everyday situations, from casual thanks to formal requests. You'll learn the direct answer to 'how to politely say thank you in Chinese,' along with variations for different registers, responses to thanks, and practical exercises. By the end, you'll be able to navigate first encounters with confidence and courtesy.
By the end, you can…
- politely say thank you in Chinese using 谢谢您 and respond appropriately.
- use 麻烦您 to make polite requests and understand when to use each expression.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
谢谢您。
Thank you. (polite)
Xièxie nín.
Use with strangers, elders, or in formal situations. Adding 您 (nín) instead of 你 (nǐ) shows respect.
麻烦您。
Sorry to trouble you. / Please. (polite)
Máfan nín.
Said before making a request, like asking for directions or a favor. It softens the imposition.
不客气。
You're welcome.
Bú kèqi.
Standard response to thanks. '不' changes to second tone before a fourth-tone syllable: bú kèqi.
谢谢。
Thanks. (casual)
Xièxie.
Use with friends, peers, or in relaxed settings. Without 您, it's friendly and informal.
麻烦你。
Sorry to trouble you. / Please. (casual)
Máfan nǐ.
Casual version of 麻烦您, used with people you know well or those of similar age.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern for polite thanks is 谢谢您 (xièxie nín). 您 is the respectful form of 'you' and is used when speaking to someone older, of higher status, or in a formal context. For example, after a shop assistant helps you, say 谢谢您. To make a polite request, start with 麻烦您 (máfan nín), which literally means 'trouble you.' For instance, 麻烦您，请问洗手间在哪里？ (Máfan nín, qǐngwèn xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?) – 'Excuse me, may I ask where the restroom is?' This pattern works because it acknowledges the other person's effort before asking. In casual settings, drop 您 for 你: 谢谢你 (xièxie nǐ) and 麻烦你 (máfan nǐ).
When to use it
Use 谢谢您 when you want to show respect, such as thanking a teacher, a doctor, or a stranger who helped you. Use 谢谢 with friends, family, or people your age. For requests, 麻烦您 is appropriate in service encounters, like asking a hotel receptionist for assistance. 麻烦你 is fine among colleagues or friends. Respond to thanks with 不客气 (bú kèqi) or 没事 (méishì, 'no problem') in casual situations. Avoid using 谢谢您 with close friends, as it can sound distant. Similarly, 麻烦您 with peers might feel overly formal. Match the expression to your relationship and the setting.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
麻烦您，请问地铁站怎么走？
Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the subway station?Máfan nín, qǐngwèn dìtiě zhàn zěnme zǒu?一直往前走，然后左转。
Go straight ahead, then turn left.Yìzhí wǎng qián zǒu, ránhòu zuǒ zhuǎn.谢谢您！
Thank you!Xièxie nín!不客气。
You're welcome.Bú kèqi.A little context goes a long way
In Chinese culture, politeness is often shown through indirectness and acknowledgment of the other person's time. Using 麻烦您 before a request is a common way to show consideration. While 谢谢 is used frequently, overusing it in close relationships might feel formal; small favors among friends may go unthanked or be met with 没事. Responding to thanks with 不客气 is standard, but in casual settings, 没事 or 不用谢 (búyòng xiè) are also common. Pay attention to tone and context to gauge the appropriate level of formality.
One thing to watch for
Using 谢谢您 with close friends, which can sound distant or overly formal.
Try this instead: With friends, use 谢谢 without 您. For example, if a friend helps you, say 谢谢 rather than 谢谢您. Similarly, use 麻烦你 instead of 麻烦您 among peers.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you politely thank a stranger who helped you?
Show a sample answer
谢谢您。
谢谢您 is the polite form, using 您 to show respect. 谢谢 alone is also acceptable but less formal.
2What should you say before asking a hotel receptionist for a favor?
Show a sample answer
麻烦您。
麻烦您 is a polite way to preface a request. 麻烦你 is also possible but less formal.
3How do you respond when someone says 谢谢 to you?
Show a sample answer
不客气。
不客气 is the standard response. In casual situations, 没事 or 不用谢 are also fine.
Use 谢谢您 for polite thanks and 麻烦您 for polite requests. Match the level of formality to your relationship and setting, and respond to thanks with 不客气.
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