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Daily lessons · Day 2 of 90
Thank you, sorry, and yes
Courtesy, and answering without a word for yes
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.
Why it works
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.
Why it works
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.
Why it works
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.
Thanks between close people
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.
Carried over from earlier days
Say each one out loud before you look at the English.
Today’s words 12
Check yourself
8 questions. Get 6 right to finish the day.
You need to squeeze past someone on a busy train. You say
- 对不起 duìbuqǐ
- 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi
- 不客气 bú kèqi
- 再见 zàijiàn
Show the answer
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.
Show the answer
xièxie The second syllable is neutral: light, short and unstressed.
Why is 不客气 said bú kèqi and not bù kèqi?
- 客 is a fourth tone
- it is a question
- 客气 is plural
- it is a southern accent
Show the answer
客 is a fourth tone 不 rises to bú in front of any fourth tone.
Someone says 谢谢. The standard reply is
- 不客气 bú kèqi
- 对不起 duìbuqǐ
- 不是 bú shì
- 晚安 wǎn'ān
Show the answer
不客气 bú kèqi Literally do not be polite. 不用谢 works too.
You are asked 你是学生吗, are you a student, and you are not. You answer
- 是 shì
- 不是 bú shì
- 对 duì
- 好 hǎo
Show the answer
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 broke something belonging to someone
- you want to get past
- you want a waiter's attention
- you are saying goodbye
Show the answer
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?
- 好 hǎo
- 是 shì
- 对不起 duìbuqǐ
- 谢谢 xièxie
Show the answer
好 hǎo 好 agrees to a suggestion. 是 confirms a fact, which is a different job.
Question 1 of 8
Writing practice optional
Every character from today, in the order it came up. Watch it, trace it, then write it from memory.
Press Watch to see the stroke order.
Stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi via Hanzi Writer, Arphic Public License.
Character 1 of 16
This lesson is written by an English speaker who learned Mandarin as a second language, and it is waiting on a check by a native speaker. If you spot something off, please tell us and we will fix it.