TongTong
Sign in

没什么 (méi shén me) — it doesn't matter; it's nothing; (in reply to thanks) you're welcome; think nothing of it

Definition

A casual spoken phrase used to dismiss something as unimportant or to reply to thanks ("you're welcome / think nothing of it"). Less formal than 没事, which leans toward "no problem / it's all right" after an apology.

verb
it doesn't matterit's nothing(in reply to thanks) you're welcomethink nothing of it

Examples

  • 没什么，。
    méi shén me, Nǐ bié dān xīn.
    It's nothing — don't worry.
  • A:！B:没什么。
    A: xiè xie nǐ bāng máng! B: méi shén me.
    A: Thanks for your help! B: You're welcome.
  • 没什么，。
    méi shén me, Zhè jiàn shì wǒ yǐ jīng chǔ lǐ hǎo le.
    No big deal, I've already taken care of it.

Origin

Characters in this word

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 沒; 没 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬛
𠬛𠬛沒mò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 沒 pairs 水 (water) with 𠬛 as a sound part; this note is about 沒, not the simplified 没.

Open 没 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 什 →

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 麼; 么 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
幺幺yāosmall, tiny
Sound part声符shēngfú
麻
麻má麼
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 麼 pairs 麻, which gives the sound, with 幺, which means small/tiny; the simplified 么 is a later shorthand.

Open 么 →
Appears in
500 Most Frequent Chinese Words1000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsGreetings & Politeness2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.