Buzz
To say "Thank you" properly in Chinese, it’s important to consider which dialect you are using. There are many different dialects spoken in various regions of China and worldwide. Here are some common ways to express "Thank you" in different Chinese dialects.
Steps
Mandarin Chinese
Say "xiè xie". This is the most common way to say "Thank you" in Mandarin Chinese.
- Mandarin Chinese is primarily spoken in the northern and southwestern parts of China. It’s the most widely used dialect compared to others.
- Xie cannot be directly translated into Vietnamese, but when you say xiè xie, it means "Thank you" and "xiè xie nǐ" means "Thank you, you".
- The pronunciation of xiè xie is syeh-syeh. The first xiè is pronounced with a rising tone, then it falls at the end. The second xie has a flat tone, meaning it is pronounced gently and without emphasis.
- In simplified Chinese writing, xiè xie is written as 谢谢. In traditional Chinese, it is written as 謝謝.
- Some variations to express "thank you" from the phrase "xie xie" include "xiè xiè nín de bāng zhù" (谢 谢 您 的 帮 助), which is a formal way to say "thank you for your help", and "xiè xiè nǐ bāng wǒ" (谢谢 你 帮 我), which is a casual way of saying "thank you for helping me".
Use "nǎlǐ, nǎlǐ" when receiving a compliment. This phrase, when translated literally, means “where, where!”
- Chinese culture places great value on humility, and saying "thank you" when receiving a compliment can be perceived as arrogance. By saying "where, where," you downplay the compliment in a humble manner. This is similar to the Vietnamese culture, where we often say "not at all" or "not really" in response to compliments.
- The pronunciation of this phrase is na-lee na-lee.
- In simplified Chinese, this phrase is written as 哪里哪里. In traditional Chinese, it is written as 哪裡哪裡.
You can also say "bù, bù, bù" when complimented. Similar to nǎlǐ, nǎlǐ, saying bù, bù, bù is a polite way to show humility when receiving praise.
- This response translates to "no, no, no" in Vietnamese.
- The number of times you say "bù" depends on how much you wish to decline the compliment. The more you are complimented, the more you deny.
- The pronunciation of bù, bù, bù is boo boo boo.
- The word bù is written as 不 in Chinese.
Cantonese
Say "doh je" when receiving a gift. This is the basic way to say "thank you" in Cantonese.
- Cantonese is mainly spoken in southern China. Outside of China, it is used in Hong Kong and Macau. It is also spoken by Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, Canada, Brazil, Peru, Cuba, Panama, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and the United States.
- Although this is the common way to say "thank you" in Cantonese, it is generally used when receiving a physical gift. If thanking someone for their help, a different phrase is used.
- The written form of doh jeh is 多謝.
- The pronunciation of doh jeh is daw-dyeh.
- If you want to thank someone in advance for a gift, say "doh je sin" instead of "doh je".
Use "m goi" when being served. This phrase is used to express thanks when being served or helped in Cantonese.
- This phrase is not used to thank someone for a physical gift. It is used specifically when being served or assisted, such as thanking a waiter in a restaurant after they refill your drink, rather than after receiving a gift.
- The written form of m goi is 唔該.
- The pronunciation of m goi is mm koi. The mm is pronounced with a flat tone, while koi has a rising tone.
- Say "m goi nei sin" if you want to thank someone before they serve or help you.
How to Say in Other Dialects
Say "u de" in Taishanese. Taishanese, a variant of Chinese spoken in Taishan, a coastal city in the southern part of Guangdong province (China), is common in the Taishan region.
Say "gum xia" in Hokkien, Hakka, and Chaozhou. This way of saying "thank you" is suitable for all three dialects.
- Hokkien is spoken by many Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, particularly in Taiwan and the southern part of Fujian province, China.
- Hakka is used by the Han people in provinces such as Hunan, Fujian, Sichuan, Guangxi, Jiangxi, and Guangdong. It is also spoken by Chinese communities in places like Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and the United States.
- Chaozhou is primarily spoken in Chaozhou, a city in the western part of Guangdong province (China).
- In writing, gum xia is 感謝.
- The pronunciation of this phrase is gahm syeh.
Say "do xia" in Hakka and the Taiwanese variant of Chinese. This is the way to say "thank you" in both of these dialects.
- In writing, do xia is 多謝.
- The pronunciation of this phrase is do-syeh.
