How to Say ‘Oh, no need, no need, that's too kind of you!’ in Simplified Chinese
哎呀，不用不用，太客气了！
āi yā bù yòng bù yòng tài kè qì le
[āiyā búyòng búyòng tài kuh-chee le]
🇨🇳 In China: Parents are expected to refuse a red envelope on their child's behalf at least once, and the giver is expected to insist. This back-and-forth is ritual politeness, so don't take the first refusal as a real no.
Phrase Breakdown
哎呀，
āi yā
oh my / oh dear
哎呀 (āiyā) is an interjection of surprise or mild protest. Say it with a lively, slightly drawn-out tone.
哎呀，我忘了带钥匙！
Oh no, I forgot my keys!
Words in this phrase
哎呀
āi yā
[āiyā]
oh my; oh dear
Interjection expressing surprise or mild embarrassment.
哎呀，我忘了带钱包！
Oh no, I forgot my wallet!
不用不用，
bù yòng bù yòng
no need, no need
不 changes to second tone before a fourth tone, so it is bú yòng. Repeating it is a polite, modest way to decline a gift.
不用不用，我自己来。
No need, no need, I'll do it myself.
Words in this phrase
不用
bù yòng
[búyòng]
no need
Says something is not necessary.
不用谢。
No need to thank me.
不用
bù yòng
[búyòng]
no need
Says something is not necessary.
不用谢。
No need to thank me.
太客气了！
tài kè qì le
you're too kind!
太…了 (tài…le) means 'too…'. 客气 (kèqi) means 'polite'. The 气 in kèqi is light and toneless.
你太客气了！
You're too kind!
Words in this phrase
太
tài
[tài]
too; overly
Adverb placed before an adjective to mean 'excessively'.
这个菜太咸了。
This dish is too salty.
客气
kè qì
[kuh-chee]
polite; formal; courteous
Describes polite or formal behavior; in networking, it often appears when encouraging relaxed conversation.
你太客气了，其实可以直接问我工作经验。
You are too polite; actually, you can directly ask me about my work experience.
了
le
[le]
change-of-state particle
Used with 快…了 to show something is about to happen.
火车快来了。
The train is about to arrive.
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