# How to say no thank you in Chinese URL: https://verychinesetimeinmylife.com/say/no-thank-you-in-chinese/ Updated: 2026-11-05 No thank you in Chinese is 不用了，谢谢 (bú yòng le, xiè xie). It means “no need, thanks”. Say it to drivers offering a ride at the airport, to a seller holding something out to you, or to a cashier offering a bag. It sounds softer than 不要 (bú yào, don’t want). ## The phrase **不用了，谢谢** (bú yòng le, xiè xie): No need, thanks | Word | Pinyin | Meaning | | --- | --- | --- | | 不用了 | bú yòng le | no need | | 谢谢 | xiè xie | thanks | Pinyin is written the way the words are said, tone changes included, the same as in the game. ### What it means 不用了 (bú yòng le) means “no need”. 谢谢 (xiè xie) means “thanks”. Together: “no need, thanks”. It says no to the offer, not to the person. That is why it is the everyday way to refuse, from street sellers to restaurants. ### How to say it Say bú yòng le, xiè xie, with a small pause at the comma. 不 (bù, not) is bù on its own. Before a falling tone it becomes bú. yòng falls, so it is bú yòng. le and the last xie are short and soft. ## When to use it ### Drivers at the airport exit At the arrivals exit, people offer you a car before you reach the taxi rank or your booked ride. They ask, then ask again. Say it each time, calmly, and keep walking. ### Anything you do not want A bag at the checkout, a receipt, a flyer, another skewer at a food stall. When you are in a hurry, 不用了 (bú yòng le) on its own is enough. ### More food at a meal Hosts keep filling your bowl. 不用了，谢谢 (bú yòng le, xiè xie) works. At a meal you will also want 吃饱了 (chī bǎo le, I’m full). ## Other ways to say it Shorter and more direct ways to say no, all from the game. - **不用了** (bú yòng le): No need - When: The short version. Fine for a quick answer to a shop assistant, or when you have to say no a second time. - **不要** (bú yào): Don't want - When: Clear and direct. Use it for simple questions like “do you want a bag?”. To a pushy seller it sounds sharper than 不用了 (bú yòng le). - **太贵了** (tài guì le): Too expensive - When: Use it when you want the thing but the price is too high. The seller usually answers with a lower price. ## What people say back - **不用了，谢谢** (bú yòng le, xiè xie): No need, thanks - When: The first driver at the arrivals exit offers you a ride. - They may say: **很便宜的！** (hěn pián yi de!): It's very cheap! (He tries once more by saying the price is low.) - **不用了** (bú yòng le): No need - When: The second driver does not give up either. - They may say: **真的不要？** (zhēn de bú yào?): You really don't want it? (One more no and he leaves.) - **不要** (bú yào): Don't want - When: The cashier asks if you want a bag. - They may say: **好的，不要袋子。** (hǎo de, bú yào dài zi.): OK, no bag. ## Common mistakes ### Saying nothing If you walk past without a word, a driver or seller may follow you and ask again. A short 不用了，谢谢 (bú yòng le, xiè xie) usually ends it faster. ### Saying “don’t want” to everything 不要 (bú yào) is fine for simple questions. Said again and again to a seller, it can sound annoyed. 不用了 (bú yòng le) sounds calmer. ### Saying no but staying If you stop and look interested, the seller keeps going, and soon there is a price. Say no and walk on. That is normal, not rude. ### Saying only thanks 谢谢 (xiè xie) on its own means thanks. It does not mean no. A seller may think you are saying yes. Put 不用了 (bú yòng le) first. ## Where it comes up in the game ### The arrivals exit This is the first thing the game teaches. Two drivers offer you a ride at night. You turn down the first one with 不用了 (bú yòng le) and 谢谢 (xiè xie), then put them together. The second one asks “you really don’t want it?” and gets another 不用了 (bú yòng le). ### Shops and stalls The breakfast stall asks if you want anything else, and you use the phrase again. At the convenience store checkout the cashier asks if you want a bag, and you answer 不要 (bú yào). ## Questions ### How do you say no thank you in Chinese? No thank you in Chinese is 不用了，谢谢 (bú yòng le, xiè xie). It means “no need, thanks”. It is the polite everyday way to turn down an offer. ### What is the difference between 不用了 and 不要? 不用了 (bú yòng le) means “no need” and sounds gentle. 不要 (bú yào) means “don’t want” and is more direct. Use 不要 (bú yào) for simple questions like “do you want a bag?”. Use 不用了 (bú yòng le) to say no to a person who is offering or selling something. ### Why does 不 sound like bú in 不用了? 不 (bù, not) is bù on its own. Before a falling tone it becomes bú. yòng falls, so 不用 (bú yòng) is bú yòng. ### How do I say no to taxi touts at a Chinese airport? Say 不用了，谢谢 (bú yòng le, xiè xie, no need, thanks) and keep walking to the official taxi rank or your booked car. Touts often ask twice and mention a low price before they give up. ### Is it rude to say no in China? Saying no to sellers and drivers is not rude in China. It is normal. 不用了，谢谢 (bú yòng le, xiè xie) keeps it polite. ### How do I say no more food in Chinese? At a meal, the clearest answer is 吃饱了 (chī bǎo le, I’m full). 不用了，谢谢 (bú yòng le, xiè xie) also works. Hosts often offer again, so you may need to say it twice. ## Related pages - [How to say thank you in Chinese](https://verychinesetimeinmylife.com/say/thank-you-in-chinese/): The word for thanks, how its soft second syllable sounds, when to use it, and what people say back. - [How to say I’m full in Chinese](https://verychinesetimeinmylife.com/say/i-am-full-in-chinese/): What to say when your bowl keeps being refilled, why you may need to say it twice, and how to say “enough”. - [How to say how much in Chinese](https://verychinesetimeinmylife.com/say/how-much-in-chinese/): How to ask a price, how to ask about one thing or a price per half kilo, and how prices are said back. - [Chinese for a visa-free stopover in China](https://verychinesetimeinmylife.com/for/visa-free-transit-china/): A short stay between flights: showing your passport, leaving the airport, one night in a hotel and a day out.