不客气
Traditional: 不客氣
bù kè qi HSK 1

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

不客气。
Bú kèqi.
You're welcome.
他不客气。
Tā bú kèqi.
He is impolite.
你不客气。
Nǐ bú kèqi.
You are impolite.
不用谢,我很乐意帮忙。
Búyòng xiè, wǒ hěn lèyì bāngmáng.
You're welcome for the help.
他对客人非常不客气。
Tā duì kèrén fēicháng bú kèqì.
He was very impolite to the guests.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of the core word 客气 (kèqi) meaning 'polite/formal courtesy.' Adding 不 (bù) negates it. So when someone thanks you, you're saying 'No courtesy was needed' (You're welcome). For the adjective meaning, remember it describes behavior that is 'not polite' (rude).

📝 Usage Notes

As a response to thanks, it's used in both formal and informal spoken contexts, and occasionally in informal written exchanges like messages. As an adjective meaning 'rude,' it's more common in descriptive statements than as a direct insult.

📖 Grammar Points

As an interjection, it stands alone as a complete response. As an adjective, it follows standard adjective grammar, e.g., 他说话很不客气 (He speaks very rudely). It can be modified by degree adverbs like 很 (hěn), 太 (tài).

🏯 Cultural Notes

It reflects the Chinese cultural emphasis on ritual politeness (客气, kèqi) in social exchanges. The term itself negates this politeness (不), so saying it asserts that no such formal courtesy was needed, which is the polite response. In hospitality, a host might say '别客气' (bié kèqi - don't be polite/formal) to a guest, who might reply '不客气'.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to '不用谢' (búyòng xiè), which also means 'no need to thank,' 不客气 is slightly more formal and standard. Compared to '没事' (méishì) or '没关系' (méiguānxi), which are more casual 'no problem' responses, 不客气 is the most direct and common polite equivalent to 'you're welcome.'

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