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不客气 (bù kè qi) — you're welcome (response to thanks); rude, impolite

Definition

Two distinct uses: a polite 'you're welcome' reply to thanks, and 'rude, impolite' describing behavior. The 'rude' sense is closer in tone to 粗鲁 than to 粗 (which is more about texture or being thick).

phrase
you're welcome (response to thanks)rudeimpolite

Examples

  • ，不客气。
    Tā xiè xie wǒ, wǒ shuō bù kè qi.
    He thanked me, and I said 'you're welcome.'
  • 不客气，。
    Tā hěn bù kè qi, wǒ bù xǐ huan tā.
    He is rude, so I don't like him.
  • ：“不客气。”
    Tā shuō: "bù kè qi."
    He said, 'You're welcome.'

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

不bùnot
客气polite; guest-like manners
客kèguest气qìmanner or air
偏正Modifier + head

不 says not to 客气, guest-like manners, so it can mean not polite or say you are welcome.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè客kè
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 客, 宀 is a roof and 各 gives the sound; the character meant a guest.

Open 客 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 1HSK 2.0 Level 11000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsGreetings & Politeness2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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