In this workshop you will practice a short, polite goodbye after a meal. You will thank your host, say you had a lovely evening, explain that you have to go, and respond when someone says these things to you. Every Chinese example comes from the recordings, and each line is explained in English before you use it.
Thanking Your Host and Saying You Had a Lovely Evening
When you leave a meal, a warm thank-you is often enough. «谢谢你的招待。» means "Thank you for your hospitality." It thanks the host for receiving you and taking care of you. «今晚很愉快。» means "It was a lovely evening" or "I had a lovely evening." It comments on the time you spent together. You can say these one after the other, and «谢谢你的招待，今晚很愉快。» combines both ideas: "Thanks for your hospitality; it was a lovely evening." Use «谢谢你的招待，今晚很愉快。» when you want one complete, polite sentence. Say it while looking at your host, with a calm and friendly tone.
Saying You Have to Go and Responding to a Guest
After the thanks, it is common to explain that you are leaving. «我得走了。» means "I have to go now." «时间不早了，我得走了。» adds a reason: "It's getting late; I have to go now." If you are the host and your guest says this, «好的，谢谢你来。» is a suitable reply: "Okay, thank you for coming." It accepts the goodbye and thanks the guest for visiting. The guest can then repeat the thanks with «谢谢你的招待，今晚很愉快。», which means "Thanks for your hospitality; it was a lovely evening." The host can close with «不客气，路上小心，再见。»: "You're welcome, take care on the way, goodbye." This answers the thanks, wishes the guest a safe trip, and says goodbye.
Putting the Goodbye Together
A full polite goodbye can follow this order: thank the host, comment on the evening, say you have to go, and then respond to the host's closing words. As the guest, you might say «谢谢你的招待，今晚很愉快。», then «时间不早了，我得走了。». The host replies with «好的，谢谢你来。». You answer with «谢谢你的招待，今晚很愉快。», and the host closes with «不客气，路上小心，再见。». If you are the host, your main lines are «好的，谢谢你来。» and «不客气，路上小心，再见。». If you are the guest, your main lines are «谢谢你的招待，今晚很愉快。», «时间不早了，我得走了。», and «谢谢你的招待，今晚很愉快。». Keep the same order even when you swap roles: the request to leave comes before the host's reply, and the guest's final thanks come before the host's goodbye.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
谢谢你的招待。
Thank you for your hospitality.
Xièxie nǐ de zhāodài.
今晚很愉快。
It was a lovely evening. / I had a lovely evening.
Jīnwǎn hěn yúkuài.
谢谢你的招待，今晚很愉快。
Thanks for your hospitality; it was a lovely evening.
Xièxie nǐ de zhāodài, jīnwǎn hěn yúkuài.
我得走了。
I have to go now.
Wǒ děi zǒu le.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
时间不早了，我得走了。
It's getting late; I have to go now.好的，谢谢你来。
Okay, thank you for coming.谢谢你的招待，今晚很愉快。
Thanks for your hospitality; it was a lovely evening.不客气，路上小心，再见。
You're welcome, take care on the way, goodbye.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Goodbye Exchange
You are a guest at a friend's home after dinner. You want to thank your host, say you had a lovely evening, and explain that you have to go. Your partner plays the host.
Your task: Read your lines in this order: first «谢谢你的招待，今晚很愉快。», then «时间不早了，我得走了。». Your partner replies with «好的，谢谢你来。». Then say «谢谢你的招待，今晚很愉快。», and your partner closes with «不客气，路上小心，再见。». After one round, swap roles and repeat the same order.
Choose the Right Reply
Your partner is the guest and says «时间不早了，我得走了。»: "It's getting late; I have to go now." You are the host and need to choose a suitable reply.
Your task: Choose the best host reply: A) «好的，谢谢你来。», or B) «不客气，路上小心，再见。». Say your choice aloud, then say the full line. After that, your partner says «谢谢你的招待，今晚很愉快。», and you give the other host line that fits that moment.
Recall the Goodbye in the Correct Roles
Work with a partner. One of you is the guest and one is the host. Cover the line list and recall the goodbye from memory.
Your task: The guest begins with a thank-you and a comment on the evening, then says it is getting late and they have to go. The host replies, the guest gives a final thank-you, and the host closes with a goodbye and a wish to take care. Use the recorded lines in the correct order.
Common questions
Can I use these lines if I am the host instead of the guest?
Yes. As the host, your main lines are «好的，谢谢你来。» and «不客气，路上小心，再见。». «好的，谢谢你来。» means "Okay, thank you for coming," and «不客气，路上小心，再见。» means "You're welcome, take care on the way, goodbye." Use «好的，谢谢你来。» after the guest says they have to go, and use «不客气，路上小心，再见。» after the guest's final thanks.
What is the difference between «谢谢你的招待。» and «今晚很愉快。»?
«谢谢你的招待。» means "Thank you for your hospitality." It thanks the host for receiving you. «今晚很愉快。» means "It was a lovely evening" or "I had a lovely evening." It comments on the time you spent together. You can say both, and «谢谢你的招待，今晚很愉快。» combines them into one polite sentence.
Sources and further reading
- chinese: say goodbye after a mealChecked September 2026
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Take today's Chinese into a conversation with a Yapr AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr