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How to say no thank you in Chinese

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No thank you in Chinese is 不bú用yòng了le，谢xiè谢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bú要yào (don’t want).

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The phrase

不用了，谢谢 (bú yòng le, xiè xie) No need, thanks
  • 不用了bú yòng leno need
  • 谢谢xiè xiethanks

What it means

不bú用yòng了le means “no need”. 谢xiè谢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.

The pinyin shows how people really say it, the same as in the game.

When to use it

  1. 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.

  2. 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bú用yòng了le on its own is enough.

  3. More food at a meal

    Hosts keep filling your bowl. 不bú用yòng了le，谢xiè谢xie works. At a meal you will also want 吃chī饱bǎo了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

    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

    Clear and direct. Use it for simple questions like “do you want a bag?”. To a pushy seller it sounds sharper than 不bú用yòng了le.

  • 太贵了 (tài guì le) Too expensive

    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

    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

    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

    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bú用yòng了le，谢xiè谢xie usually ends it faster.

  • Saying “don’t want” to everything

    不bú要yào is fine for simple questions. Said again and again to a seller, it can sound annoyed. 不bú用yòng了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xiè谢xie on its own means thanks. It does not mean no. A seller may think you are saying yes. Put 不bú用yòng了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bú用yòng了le and 谢xiè谢xie, then put them together. The second one asks “you really don’t want it?” and gets another 不bú用yòng了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bú要yào.

Questions

How do you say no thank you in Chinese?

No thank you in Chinese is 不bú用yòng了le，谢xiè谢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bú用yòng了le means “no need” and sounds gentle. 不bú要yào means “don’t want” and is more direct. Use 不bú要yào for simple questions like “do you want a bag?”. Use 不bú用yòng了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bú用yòng is bú yòng.

How do I say no to taxi touts at a Chinese airport?

Say 不bú用yòng了le，谢xiè谢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bú用yòng了le，谢xiè谢xie keeps it polite.

How do I say no more food in Chinese?

At a meal, the clearest answer is 吃chī饱bǎo了le (I’m full). 不bú用yòng了le，谢xiè谢xie also works. Hosts often offer again, so you may need to say it twice.