How to Say ‘Polite; courteous’ in Simplified Chinese
客气
kè qì
[kuh-chee]
💬 Usage Tip: In [不客气], [客气] doesn't just mean "polite" in a dictionary sense — it often means "to stand on ceremony" or "be overly formal." So [不客气] is really "don't be so formal," which is why it means "you're welcome."
Phrase Breakdown
客气
kè qì
[kuh-chee]
polite; ceremonious
Often appears in '不客气,' meaning 'you're welcome'; by itself it relates to being overly formal or polite.
都是小事，不用客气。
It's just a small thing, no need to be so polite.
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