bùkèqi: 不客气 - You're Welcome, Don't be Polite

• Keywords: bu ke qi, bukeqi, 不客气, you're welcome in Chinese, how to say you're welcome in Chinese, don't be polite Chinese, Chinese for you're welcome, bú kèqi, meaning of bu ke qi, response to xiexie
• Summary: “不客气 (bùkèqi)” is the most common and essential way to say “you're welcome” in Mandarin Chinese. While it's the standard response to “thank you” (谢谢, xièxie), its literal meaning—“don't be a guest” or “don't be polite”—reveals a deeper cultural value. Using “不客气” is a friendly gesture to reduce social distance, implying “there's no need for formality between us.” This guide will break down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use in daily conversation for beginner learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bù kè qi
• Part of Speech: Interjection / Phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: The standard phrase for “You're welcome” in response to thanks.
• In a Nutshell: Think of “不客气 (bùkèqi)” as the Chinese equivalent of “You're welcome,” but with a warmer, more inclusive feeling. Its literal translation, “don't be guest-like,” is an invitation to be casual and close. When someone thanks you and you reply with “不客气,” you're not just acknowledging their thanks; you're telling them that the help you provided wasn't a formal chore but a natural act between friends, family, or people who are not strangers to one another.

• 不 (bù): A negative prefix, the most common way to say “no” or “not.”
• 客 (kè): This character means “guest.” A guest is someone who is treated with formal politeness and is not part of the “in-group” or family.
• 气 (qì): This character has many meanings, including “air,” “gas,” or “spirit.” When combined with 客 (kè) to form 客气 (kèqi), it refers to the “air” or “manner” of a guest—that is, being polite, formal, and courteous.

Putting them together, 不 (bù) + 客气 (kèqi) literally means “not guest-air” or “don't be polite/formal like a guest.” It’s a way of saying, “Drop the formality, we're close enough that you don't need to be so polite.”

In Chinese culture, the distinction between an “insider” (自己人, zìjǐrén) and an “outsider” or “guest” (客人, kèrén) is significant. Formality and politeness (客气, kèqi) are expected when interacting with outsiders. However, maintaining that same level of formality with family, friends, or close colleagues can create a sense of distance. Replying with 不客气 (bùkèqi) is a powerful social tool to break down that wall. It's a verbal signal that you consider the other person an “insider.” You're essentially saying, “What I did for you is not a transaction that requires formal thanks. It's just what we do for each other.” This contrasts with the Western concept of “You're welcome.” While functionally the same, “You're welcome” is more of a polite, transactional closing of a loop: a favor was requested/given, thanks were offered, and the thanks are now acknowledged. 不客气 is more relational; it's about managing and strengthening the social bond by minimizing formality.

不客气 is an all-purpose, neutral-to-informal phrase that you can use in almost any situation where someone thanks you.

• As a Standard Response to “Thank You”: This is its primary and most frequent use. From a shopkeeper to your best friend, if they say `谢谢 (xièxie)`, your automatic reply should be `不客气 (bùkèqi)`.
• To Encourage Someone to Feel at Home: A host might say `不客气` or the nearly identical `别客气 (bié kèqi)` to a guest who is hesitating to eat or drink. In this context, it means “Make yourself at home,” “Help yourself,” or “Don't stand on ceremony.”
• Formality: It's a safe and appropriate response in over 95% of daily situations. While there are other ways to say “you're welcome,” `不客气` is never the wrong choice in everyday interactions.

• Example 1:
  • A: 谢谢你！ (Xièxie nǐ!)
  • B: 不客气。 (Bù kèqi.)
  • Pinyin: A: Xièxie nǐ! B: Bù kèqi.
  • English: A: Thank you! B: You're welcome.
  • Analysis: This is the most basic and common exchange you will hear and use countless times a day.
• Example 2:
  • A: 太谢谢你了，你帮了我一个大忙。
  • B: 不客气，小事一桩。
  • Pinyin: A: Tài xièxie nǐ le, nǐ bāng le wǒ yí ge dà máng. B: Bù kèqi, xiǎo shì yì zhuāng.
  • English: A: Thank you so much, you helped me out big time. B: You're welcome, it was a small thing.
  • Analysis: Here, `不客气` is used to graciously downplay the significance of the help provided, reinforcing the friendly relationship.
• Example 3:
  • (At a dinner party, a guest hesitates to take more food.)
  • Host: 多吃点儿，不客气！
  • Pinyin: Host: Duō chī diǎnr, bù kèqi!
  • English: Host: Eat more, don't be polite! / Help yourself!
  • Analysis: In this context, `不客气` is used proactively to mean “make yourself at home” or “don't be shy.”
• Example 4:
  • (A stranger holds a door open for you.)
  • A: 谢谢。 (Xièxie.)
  • B: 不客气。 (Bù kèqi.)
  • Pinyin: A: Xièxie. B: Bù kèqi.
  • English: A: Thanks. B: You're welcome.
  • Analysis: This shows that `不客气` is perfectly suitable even for brief interactions with strangers.
• Example 5:
  • A: 这个礼物太贵重了，谢谢！
  • B: 喜欢就好，不客气。
  • Pinyin: A: Zhège lǐwù tài guìzhòng le, xièxie! B: Xǐhuān jiù hǎo, bù kèqi.
  • English: A: This gift is too expensive, thank you! B: I'm glad you like it, you're welcome.
  • Analysis: `不客气` here reassures the receiver that the gift was given freely and without expectation of anything in return.
• Example 6:
  • (A colleague helps you with a work task.)
  • A: 麻烦你了，谢谢啊。
  • B: 不客气，有事随时叫我。
  • Pinyin: A: Máfan nǐ le, xièxie a. B: Bù kèqi, yǒu shì suíshí jiào wǒ.
  • English: A: Sorry to trouble you, thanks. B: You're welcome, call me anytime if you need anything.
  • Analysis: This is a very common and friendly exchange in the workplace, strengthening collegial bonds.
• Example 7:
  • A: 你的中文说得真好！
  • B: 谢谢你的夸奖！
  • A: 不客气！
  • Pinyin: A: Nǐ de Zhōngwén shuō de zhēn hǎo! B: Xièxie nǐ de kuājiǎng! A: Bù kèqi!
  • English: A: Your Chinese is really good! B: Thank you for the compliment! A: You're welcome!
  • Analysis: Demonstrates that `不客气` can also be a response to thanks for something non-physical, like a compliment.
• Example 8:
  • (A waiter brings you a glass of water.)
  • Customer: 谢谢。 (Xièxie.)
  • Waiter: 不客气。 (Bù kèqi.)
  • Pinyin: Customer: Xièxie. Waiter: Bù kèqi.
  • English: Customer: Thank you. Waiter: You're welcome.
  • Analysis: Standard polite exchange in a service setting.
• Example 9:
  • A: 这是你的笔，你刚才掉了。
  • B: 啊，谢谢你！
  • A: 不客气。
  • Pinyin: A: Zhè shì nǐ de bǐ, nǐ gāngcái diào le. B: À, xièxie nǐ! A: Bù kèqi.
  • English: A: Here's your pen, you just dropped it. B: Oh, thank you! A: You're welcome.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of a simple, everyday act of kindness followed by the standard polite response.
• Example 10:
  • A: 我请客，你别掏钱了。
  • B: 那怎么好意思，太谢谢了。
  • A: 不客气，下次你请！
  • Pinyin: A: Wǒ qǐngkè, nǐ bié tāo qián le. B: Nà zěnme hǎoyìsi, tài xièxie le. A: Bù kèqi, xià cì nǐ qǐng!
  • English: A: My treat, don't take out your money. B: Oh, I'm embarrassed, thank you so much. A: Don't mention it, you can treat next time!
  • Analysis: A classic friendly exchange, where `不客气` serves to smooth over the social awkwardness of one person paying for another.

• Mistake 1: Responding to an Apology.
  • A common error for beginners is to use `不客气` to respond to an apology like `对不起 (duìbuqǐ)`. This is incorrect. The proper response to an apology is `没关系 (méi guānxi)`, which means “it's okay” or “no problem.”
  • Incorrect: A: `对不起！(Duìbuqǐ! - Sorry!)` B: `*不客气。(Bù kèqi.)*`
  • Correct: A: `对不起！(Duìbuqǐ!)` B: `没关系。(Méi guānxi.)`
• Mistake 2: Not Responding at All.
  • In English, a simple “mm-hmm” or a nod might suffice after someone says “thank you.” In Chinese, failing to give a verbal response like `不客气` after being thanked can be perceived as cold, dismissive, or even a bit rude. It's a required part of the social script.
• Overthinking the Literal Meaning:
  • Don't get stuck on the “don't be polite” translation. While the literal meaning provides fascinating cultural insight, in practice, it functions exactly as “You're welcome” does. Just learn it as the automatic response to `谢谢 (xièxie)`.

• 不用谢 (búyòng xiè): A very common synonym. It literally means “no need to thank.” It's slightly more casual than `不客气` but is used interchangeably in most situations.
• 别客气 (bié kèqi): Almost identical to `不客气`, but uses `别 (bié)`, a softer way to say “don't.” It's often used proactively to mean “Help yourself!” or “Don't be a stranger.”
• 没事 (méishì) / 没事儿 (méishìr): Very casual, meaning “it's nothing” or “no big deal.” Best used with friends and for very small favors, like picking up something someone dropped.
• 客气 (kèqi): The root word. It's an adjective meaning “polite,” “courteous,” or “formal.” You might say, “你太客气了！(Nǐ tài kèqi le!)” meaning “You're too polite!”
• 没关系 (méi guānxi): Crucial distinction. This means “it doesn't matter” or “no problem” and is the correct response to an apology (`对不起`), not to thanks.
• 小事一桩 (xiǎo shì yì zhuāng): An idiom meaning “a trivial matter” or “a piece of cake.” A friendly, more colloquial way to downplay a significant favor you did for someone.
• 哪里哪里 (nǎli nǎli): This is a humble response to a compliment, not to thanks. It literally means “where, where?” but functions like “oh, you're too kind” or “it's nothing, really.”