Traditional Chinese - Polite Little Phrases

請___

Qǐng ___.

Please, ___ .

Meaning: 請___。 (Qǐng ___.) means “Please ___.” It is a simple polite request frame.

When to use: Use it before a short action request, like asking someone to sit, wait, or look.

Tip: Don’t use 請 (Qǐng) alone if you need a full request. Add the action after it, like 請坐 (Qǐng zuò).

謝謝

Xièxie.

Thank you.

Meaning: 謝謝。 (Xièxie.) means “Thank you.”

When to use: Use it anytime someone helps you, gives you something, or does something kind.

不客氣

Bú kèqì.

You're welcome.

Meaning: 不客氣。 (Bú kèqì.) means “You’re welcome.”

When to use: Say it after someone says 謝謝 (Xièxie).

Tip: Be careful with pronunciation: 不客氣 (Bú kèqì) starts with bú, not bù, because of the tone change before 客 (kè).

不好意思

Bù hǎoyìsi.

Excuse me.

Meaning: 不好意思。 (Bù hǎoyìsi.) means “Excuse me.”

When to use: Very common in Taiwan when getting someone’s attention, passing by, or lightly apologizing.

Tip: In Taiwan, 不好意思 (Bù hǎoyìsi) is often softer and more everyday than 對不起 (Duìbuqǐ) for small interruptions.

對不起

Duìbuqǐ.

Sorry.

Meaning: 對不起。 (Duìbuqǐ.) means “Sorry.”

When to use: Use it for a simple, direct apology.

可以請你___嗎？

Kěyǐ qǐng nǐ ___ ma?

Could you ___, please?

Meaning: 可以請你___嗎？ (Kěyǐ qǐng nǐ ___ ma?) means “Could you ___, please?”

When to use: Use it to make a polite question request. For more formality, use 您 (nín) instead of 你 (nǐ).

Tip: Keep 嗎 (ma) at the end of 可以請你___嗎？ (Kěyǐ qǐng nǐ ___ ma?) to make it a yes/no question.

可以請你再說一次嗎？

Kěyǐ qǐng nǐ zài shuō yí cì ma?

Can you say that again, please?

Meaning: 可以請你再說一次嗎？ (Kěyǐ qǐng nǐ zài shuō yí cì ma?) means “Can you say that again, please?”

When to use: Use it when you didn’t catch what someone said and want them to repeat politely.

請幫我

Qǐng bāng wǒ.

Please help me.

Meaning: 請幫我。 (Qǐng bāng wǒ.) means “Please help me.”

When to use: Use it when you need help and want to ask politely.

不好意思，我沒辦法。

Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ méi bànfǎ.

Sorry, I can't.

Meaning: 不好意思，我沒辦法。 (Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ méi bànfǎ.) means “Sorry, I can’t.”

When to use: Use it to politely refuse or say you’re unable to do something.

你真好

Nǐ zhēn hǎo.

That's very kind of you.

Meaning: 你真好。 (Nǐ zhēn hǎo.) means “That’s very kind of you.”

When to use: Use it warmly when someone helps you or does something thoughtful.

沒關係

Méi guānxi.

It's okay.

Meaning: 沒關係。 (Méi guānxi.) means “It’s okay.”

When to use: Use it to reassure someone after a small problem or apology.

請

Qǐng.

Go ahead.

Meaning: 請。 (Qǐng.) means “Go ahead.”

When to use: Use it politely to let someone proceed, enter, sit, or start.

Tip: 請 (Qǐng) by itself can mean “go ahead,” but 請___ (Qǐng ___) means “please do something.” Context matters.

你先請

Nǐ xiān qǐng.

After you.

Meaning: 你先請。 (Nǐ xiān qǐng.) means “After you.”

When to use: Use it when letting someone go first through a door, in line, or when taking turns.