Saying “You are Welcome” in Chinese: Express Gratitude With Learn Common Phrases 

Learning a new language can be an incredibly eye-opening experience. It helps you communicate with people from diverse backgrounds, tear down cultural barriers, and immerse yourself in rich experiences. 

Of the many languages you could learn, Mandarin (often referred to as Chinese) is one of the most enriching. While there are other dialects of Chinese, Mandarin is the official dialect endorsed by Beijing and is spoken by tens of millions of people around the world. 

Learning a new language, especially one as complex as Mandarin, can feel daunting. However, it is manageable, especially when you break your journey down into smaller milestones. 

First, you should empower yourself to answer simple questions by learning to say no in Chinese and yes in Chinese. Next, shift your focus to learning phrases of gratitude, like thank you and you’re welcome in Chinese. 

That brings us to the topic of this guide, learning how to say you are welcome in Mandarin. Below, we will cover a few different ways to say you are welcome in Chinese and provide some tips on when you should and shouldn’t use this common phrase. Let’s dive in. 

The Importance of Learning: You are Welcome in Chinese

In Chinese culture, politeness and humility are deeply ingrained in social interactions. Expressions of gratitude and appreciation aren’t just about manners; they reflect a significant cultural ethos of respect and reciprocity. Saying you’re welcome in Chinese demonstrates that you are embracing this culture and honoring centuries-old beliefs. 

However, simplifying learning how to say welcome in Chinese is not enough. You must know when, where, and how to use these phrases. Misusing forms of welcome in Mandarin can be offensive in certain scenarios, so familiarize yourself with the various versions of this phrase before attempting to speak it. 

How to Say: You are Welcome in Chinese

How do you say you are welcome in Chinese? Unsurprisingly, there are multiple phrases for you are welcome in Mandarin. The ones you need to know include the following expressions.

The Basic Phrase: 不客气 (Bú kè qì)

不客气 (bú kè qì) is the most common way to say you are welcome in Mandarin. It is pronounced “Boo keh-chee” and can be translated as “Don’t be so polite.” It’s the bread and butter of gratitude responses in Chinese, suitable for almost any situation where you receive thanks. 

Use this phrase in everyday exchanges like after holding a door, serving a meal, or helping someone. It’s a versatile phrase and fits in most conversations, including formal settings and casual conversation. 

An easy way to determine how to use this phrase in your sentences is to think about its English companion phrase, “You’re welcome.” If it would be considered polite and appropriate to say “You’re welcome,” you can use 不客气 (bú kè qì). 

If you only learn one way to say you are welcome in Chinese, this is the one you need to know. However, as you get more comfortable with the language, you may want to explore other variations. The following section highlights other options that can enrich your language-learning experience. 

Alternative Phrases for You are Welcome

Mastering different ways to say you are welcome in Chinese enhances your skills and deepens your cultural understanding. From a practical standpoint, adding multiple phrases to your knowledge base will help you match the conversation’s tone and level of formality. 

If you are speaking to a business associate, you can use the formal version discussed above. If you are in a more casual setting, you can use one of a few other phrases.

别客气 (Bié kè qì)

别客气 (Bié kèqì) translates to “don’t mention it” and carries a warm, friendly tone. It is a phrase commonly used among friends and family. 

Use this phrase when you want to express that the help you gave was a pleasure or a small gesture. For example, if someone thanks you for passing the salt at dinner, a quick 别客气 (Bié kè qì) keeps the tone light. 

However, keep in mind that this phrase doesn’t work for all situations. If you are speaking to someone in a business setting, stick with the more formal 不客气 (Bú kè qì). 

不要客气 (Bú yào kè qì)

不要客气 (Bú yào kè qì) means “no need to be so polite.” While the rough translation may not seem warm, friendly, or filled with gratitude, it is a widespread phrase in Chinese culture. It implies a closer relationship or familiarity.

不要客气 is often used among friends or colleagues to suggest that the help was given out of genuine care or camaraderie, and formal thanks are unnecessary. This phrase fosters a sense of community and closeness, indicating that helping each other is a natural part of the relationship. 

When would you use this? 不要客气 would fit best when you are speaking to relatives or close friends. You may not want to use this version when talking to people you are less familiar with, even if the setting is semi-formal. 

不用谢 (Bú yòng xiè)

不用谢 (Bú yòng xiè) roughly translates to “No need to thank.” It’s often used in informal, friendly situations. Imagine a scenario where you’ve passed a book to a classmate or offered a small favor to a neighbor. In these exchanges, 不用谢 (Bú yòng xiè) conveys a sense of effortless helpfulness.

You convey that what you did was no trouble and doesn’t require formal thanks. Think of it as saying “no problem” or “anytime” in English. 

没关系 (Méi guān xi)

没关系 (Méi guān xi) is a shorter form of the primary phrase for you are welcome in Chinese. It means, “It doesn’t matter,” and is used in several ways. You can use this phrase if someone offers gratitude for something you consider minor, such as passing a book. 

However, the more common use is when someone apologizes to you for some minor act. For instance, if a person bumped into you while walking down a busy sidewalk, you could use 没关系 (Méi guān xi). It demonstrates that you didn’t take the incident seriously, and there is no offense. 

When Not to Say: You are Welcome in Chinese

Chinese culture is built around a sense of duty and obligation to one’s family. Specific actions are expected of someone simply because they are within another person’s circle of trust. 

As such, there are some situations where saying you are welcome in Chinese might be inconsistent with cultural norms. That’s not to say that you would be offending someone; instead, a response isn’t expected or required within the culture.

For instance, in close family or intimate relationships, expressions of gratitude are often met with silence or a nod, as the actions are seen as natural extensions of the relationship. Knowing when not to say you are welcome in Chinese is just as important as knowing when to say thank you. In many scenarios within the culture, gratitude and the “you’re welcome” that follows are assumed or expressed using humble, non-verbal cues. 

Learn Mandarin With NewConcept Education

Saying “you’re welcome” in Chinese shows respect, builds rapport, and demonstrates cultural awareness, fostering positive interactions and connections.

Now that you know how to say you are welcome in Chinese, it’s time to learn more Mandarin words and phrases. Before you know it, you’ll be putting together complete sentences and holding conversations in Mandarin. 

The best part is that learning Mandarin is easier than ever, thanks to NewConcept Education. Book a free Mandarin class today and start your journey to becoming fluent in Chinese!