Xiexie (谢谢): Thank you in Chinese

谢谢

xièxie

Thank you

Character breakdown

谢

to thank

xiè

谢

to thank

xiè

Grammar and structure

谢谢 is a reduplicated form of 谢 (xiè), meaning 'to thank'. The repetition softens the tone, making it a polite and friendly expression.

Variations and politeness

多谢

duōxiè

Many thanks — More emphatic and emotional than 谢谢.

谢谢你

xièxie nǐ

Thank you (to you) — More personal, explicitly addressing the person.

感谢

gǎnxiè

I am grateful — More formal, used in official or written contexts.

Mini dialogue

谢谢你的帮助！

xièxie nǐ de bāngzhù!

Thank you for your help!

不客气！

bù kèqì!

You're welcome!

When to use it

Appropriate

When someone does something kind or helpful for you.
In both casual and formal situations, such as with friends, colleagues, or strangers.
When you want to express gratitude without overdoing it; a simple 谢谢 is usually enough.

Avoid when

When you want to say 'thank you very much' with strong emphasis; 谢谢 alone may sound too mild, so use 多谢 or 非常感谢 instead.
When responding to a compliment; in Chinese, it's more common to deflect the compliment rather than say 谢谢.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say 'thank you' in Chinese?

You say 谢谢 (xièxie). It is the most common and versatile way to express gratitude.

How do you pronounce 谢谢?

It is pronounced 'xièxie', with a falling tone on both syllables. The 'x' is like a soft 'sh' sound, and the 'ie' is similar to the 'ye' in 'yes'.

When do you use 谢谢?

You can use 谢谢 in almost any situation to say thank you, whether formal or informal. It is appropriate for friends, family, colleagues, and strangers.