How to say thank you in Chinese: 謝謝 (xièxie)
Thank you in Chinese is 謝謝, written xièxie in pinyin and ㄒㄧㄝˋ ˙ㄒㄧㄝ in 注音. The first 謝 is a falling fourth tone, and the second is a short, light neutral tone that stays low, so 謝謝 sounds like one fall, with the weight on the first syllable.
Standard and spoken
Our native speaker recorded 謝謝 twice: standard, slow and clear like a textbook, and spoken, at normal speed. Both lines are drawn on the same time scale.
In the standard recording, the first 謝 falls from the top of her voice to the bottom. The second 謝 stays down there, short and almost flat. That matches the dictionary: fourth tone, then a neutral tone.
The spoken recording is about the same length, about 0.7 seconds. The fall starts in the middle of her voice, not at the top, and the second syllable is just the end of the same fall. Say 謝謝 as one fall, not as two separate fourth tones.
Syllable by syllable
- 謝Fourth tone. x is a soft sh with the tongue tip behind the lower teeth, ie sounds like ye in yes. Start high and fall all the way down.
- 謝Neutral tone. Same syllable, but short, quiet and low, right where the first one ended. Do not lift it back up.
Common mistakes
- Saying both syllables as full falls: xiè xiè.Fall once on the first 謝, then let the second stay low and short.
- Lifting the second syllable back up, so it sounds like a question.Keep it at the bottom of your voice, where the first one ended.
- Saying x like the English sh or s.Tongue tip behind the lower teeth, lips slightly spread, then a soft sh.
Common phrases and replies
- 謝謝你thank you (to one person)Thanks to one person.
- 謝謝大家thank you, everyoneTo a group, at the end of a talk or a class.
- 多謝many thanksShort and friendly; common in Taiwan.
- 不客氣you're welcomeThe usual reply, see the page on you're welcome.
Taiwan and mainland
In Taiwan you will also hear 謝啦 (xiè la), a casual thanks between friends, and people often answer 謝謝 with 不會 (bú huì, not at all) instead of 不客氣. The second 謝 is light in Taiwan too.
Practise it out loud
Say it and see your pitch drawn over the recording.
The tone visualizer is free and needs no account.
Questions
Is it xièxie or xièxiè?
Dictionaries write xièxie: the second syllable is a neutral tone, short and low. Two full fourth tones are understood, but sound slow and stiff.
How do you reply to 謝謝?
不客氣 (bú kè qì, you're welcome) is the textbook reply. In Taiwan 不會 (bú huì) is just as common in everyday talk, and 沒事 (méi shì, it's nothing) is casual.
How do I make the x sound in xie?
Put the tip of your tongue behind your lower front teeth, smile slightly and say sh. It is softer and more forward than the English sh, and there is no s-h split.
Is 謝謝 polite enough for every situation?
Yes. It works with friends, shop staff and teachers. For more weight add 你 or 您 (xiè xie nín), or say 非常感謝 (fēi cháng gǎn xiè, thank you very much).