Thank You in Chinese: Xièxie and 9 More Ways to Say Thanks

沉浸 TeamAugust 6, 20264 min read

The most common way to say thank you in Chinese is 谢谢 (xièxie). It works in almost any situation: with friends, strangers, waiters, and taxi drivers. If you only learn one phrase today, make it this one.

That said, Chinese has a whole family of thank-you phrases, and picking the right one makes you sound much more natural. This post walks through the ones you'll hear most, as part of our essential Chinese phrases guide.

How do you say thank you in Mandarin?

In Mandarin, you say 谢谢 (xièxie). You can use it on its own, or add a person to make it warmer:

谢谢你 (xièxie nǐ): thank you. Adding 你 makes it a little more personal, like "thank you" instead of a quick "thanks".
谢谢您 (xièxie nín): thank you (polite). 您 is the respectful form of "you". Use it with elders, teachers, and customers.

A quick pronunciation note: the second syllable of 谢谢 is a neutral tone. It's said as xiè-xie, with the second "xie" light and quick, not a full falling tone twice. If you say "xiè xiè" with two heavy falling tones, people will still understand you, but it sounds a bit stiff.

More ways to say thanks in Chinese

Here are the other thank-you phrases you'll run into all the time:

多谢 (duōxiè): many thanks. A short, slightly old-fashioned "thanks a lot". Common in texts and casual speech.
太感谢你了 (tài gǎnxiè nǐ le): thank you so much. The 太...了 pattern means "so" or "too", so this is a big, warm thank you for a real favor.
感谢 (gǎnxiè): to thank, to be grateful. More formal than 谢谢. You'll see it in speeches, emails, and announcements.
非常感谢 (fēicháng gǎnxiè): thank you very much. The formal upgrade. Perfect for work emails or thanking someone important.
麻烦你了 (máfan nǐ le): sorry to trouble you, and thanks. 麻烦 means "trouble". You say this when someone went out of their way for you, like helping carry your bags.
辛苦了 (xīnkǔ le): you've worked hard. This one thanks someone for their effort, not a gift. Say it to a delivery driver, a coworker finishing a long day, or anyone who did tiring work for you.

Notice that the last two don't contain the word "thanks" at all. In Chinese, acknowledging someone's trouble or effort is its own kind of thank you, and native speakers use these phrases constantly.

Which thank you should you use?

Here's a simple way to choose:

Everyday stuff (someone hands you your coffee): 谢谢.
A friend does you a favor: 谢谢你 or 太感谢你了.
Formal or written Chinese: 感谢 or 非常感谢.
Someone went to trouble for you: 麻烦你了.
Someone worked hard for you: 辛苦了.

When in doubt, 谢谢 is never wrong. The others just add flavor.

How to respond when someone thanks you

The standard reply is 不客气 (bú kèqi), which means "you're welcome" (literally "don't be polite"). There are plenty of other options, including humble replies like 哪里哪里, and we cover all of them in our guide to you're welcome in Chinese.

Texting shorthand: 3Q

In casual texts and comments, you might see 3Q. The number 3 is pronounced "sān" and Q sounds like the English letter, so "3Q" sounds roughly like "thank you". It's playful internet slang, so keep it for chats with friends, not emails to your boss.

Frequently asked questions

What does xie xie mean in Chinese?

Xièxie (谢谢) means "thank you". It's the most common way to thank someone in Mandarin, and it works in nearly every situation.

Is it xie xie or xie xie ni?

Both are correct. 谢谢 (xièxie) is a quick "thanks", while 谢谢你 (xièxie nǐ) is a slightly warmer "thank you". Use 谢谢您 (xièxie nín) to show respect to elders or teachers.

How do you pronounce 谢谢 correctly?

The first syllable is a falling fourth tone (xiè), and the second is a light neutral tone (xie). Say it as xiè-xie, with the second syllable quick and unstressed.

What's the difference between 谢谢 and 感谢?

谢谢 (xièxie) is the everyday spoken "thank you". 感谢 (gǎnxiè) is more formal and often appears in writing, speeches, and set phrases like 非常感谢 (fēicháng gǎnxiè, "thank you very much").

Want to hear these phrases spoken aloud? Create a free Chenjin account to look up any word, listen to native-speed audio, and save phrases like 谢谢 and 麻烦你了 as flashcards you'll review at just the right time.