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How to Say ‘No, go ahead and sit.’ in Simplified Chinese

没有，你坐吧。

méi yǒu nǐ zuò ba

[may-yoh nee dzwo bah]

Phrase Breakdown

没有，

méi yǒu

no / not at all

Here it answers a question like 'Is this seat taken?' and means 'No.' Pronounced méiyǒu, with a rising tone then a low tone.

Example

没有，这里没有人。

No, nobody is here.

Words in this phrase

没有

méi yǒu

[may-yoh]

do not have; there is not

Used to say something is absent or unavailable. Common in restaurant replies.

Example

现在没有小包间了。

There are no small private rooms available now.

你坐吧。

nǐ zuò ba

you sit (please)

A polite invitation to sit down. 吧 makes it soft and friendly.

Example

别站着，你坐吧。

Don't stand, please sit.

Words in this phrase

你

nǐ

[nee]

you

The informal or neutral word for “you,” suitable for peers or casual conversation.

Example

如果对方和你年纪差不多，可以说“认识你”。

If the other person is about your age, you can say “nice to meet you” with 你.

坐

zuò

[dzwo]

to sit

坐 means to sit, and in restaurant context it often refers to where you want to be seated.

Example

我想坐靠窗的位置。

I want to sit in a window-side seat.

吧

[bah]

okay; let’s; softening particle

A sentence-ending particle that makes a suggestion or request sound softer.

Example

先订一桌吧。

Let's reserve a table first.

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