Thank you, sorry, and yes
You finished this day
Two courtesies do most of the work in Chinese. The way you say yes will surprise you, because there is no single word for it.
Thank you
The thanks are simple. The replies are where learners hesitate.
不 is a fourth tone, bù, but in front of another fourth tone it rises to bú. 客 and 用 are both fourth tones, so 不客气 and 不用谢 both start with bú. Unlike the third tone rule from day 1, most textbooks write this change into the pinyin, which is why you see bú here and bù elsewhere. The character never changes, only the way it is said.
Sorry
Two ways to apologise, and they are not interchangeable.
对不起 admits fault, so saying it to get past someone on a train sounds heavier than you meant. 不好意思 means roughly I feel awkward, and it covers all the small social friction that English handles with excuse me. As a working rule, if you would say excuse me in English, say 不好意思.
Yes and no
Chinese answers a question by repeating its verb, not with a yes or a no.
Asked 你是老师吗, nǐ shì lǎoshī ma, are you a teacher, you answer 是 or 不是: it is, or it is not. Asked 你喝茶吗, nǐ hē chá ma, do you drink tea, you answer 喝 or 不喝: drink, or not drink. The verb in the question is the answer. Day 8 covers this properly, but start listening for it now, because nodding and saying yes is the habit that marks every beginner.
Among family and very close friends, 谢谢 can sound oddly formal, as if you were keeping them at arm's length. Parents rarely thank their children for passing the salt. As a visitor you will never go wrong by thanking people, but do not be surprised when a close Chinese friend waves it away with 客气什么, kèqi shénme, what are you being polite for.
8 questions. Get 5 right to finish the day.
You need to squeeze past someone on a busy train. You say
- 对不起 duìbuqǐ
- 再见 zàijiàn
- 不客气 bú kèqi
- 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi
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不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi 不好意思 covers the small everyday frictions. 对不起 admits real fault.
Type thank you in pinyin.
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xièxie The second syllable is neutral: light, short and unstressed.
Why is 不客气 said bú kèqi and not bù kèqi?
- it is a southern accent
- 客 is a fourth tone
- it is a question
- 客气 is plural
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客 is a fourth tone 不 rises to bú in front of any fourth tone.
Someone says 谢谢. The standard reply is
- 对不起 duìbuqǐ
- 不是 bú shì
- 晚安 wǎn'ān
- 不客气 bú kèqi
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不客气 bú kèqi Literally do not be polite. 不用谢 works too.
Someone asks whether you are something, and you are not. You answer
- 不是 bú shì
- 是 shì
- 对 duì
- 好 hǎo
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不是 bú shì Echo the verb from the question, with 不 in front for no.
Type the reply that means it doesn't matter.
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méi guānxi The standard reply to either kind of sorry.
对不起 is the right choice when
- you want a waiter's attention
- you are saying goodbye
- you want to get past
- you broke something belonging to someone
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you broke something belonging to someone 对不起 admits fault. The other three are 不好意思 situations, apart from goodbye.
A friend suggests lunch. Which reply means OK?
- 是 shì
- 谢谢 xièxie
- 好 hǎo
- 对不起 duìbuqǐ
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好 hǎo 好 agrees to a suggestion. 是 confirms a fact, which is a different job.
Question 1 of 8
Character 1 of 16
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Stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi via Hanzi Writer, Arphic Public License.