How to Write Thank You in Chinese

Key Takeaways

• Thank you in Chinese is written as 謝謝 (traditional script, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong) or 谢谢 (simplified script, used in mainland China). Both are read xiè xie.

• Each character is written with a specific stroke order — top to bottom, left to right. The traditional 謝 has 17 strokes; the simplified 谢 has 12.

• To type thank you in Chinese on a phone or computer, switch to a Chinese keyboard input, type xiexie using pinyin, and choose the characters from the pop-up list.

The Two Scripts: Traditional and Simplified

謝謝 — Traditional Chinese

When you write thank you in Chinese using the traditional script, you write 謝謝. This is the form used every day in Taiwan and Hong Kong. If you send a thank-you card to a Taiwanese family, a handwritten 謝謝 will always feel warm and correct. Children learning Chinese at schools in Taiwan learn to write 謝謝 from the first year.

The character 謝 is made of three parts. On the left side you have 言, the radical that means "speech" or "words." This makes sense — thank you is something you say with words. On the right, you see 身 (body) above and 寸 (a small measure) below. Together, the character carries a sense of acknowledging someone with your whole self, not just words. That is a beautiful way to think about gratitude.

Here is a quick look at the traditional character:

谢谢 — Simplified Chinese

Simplified Chinese was introduced in mainland China in the 1950s to make literacy easier. Many characters were reduced in stroke count. The simplified form of thank you is 谢谢. The character 谢 has 12 strokes instead of 17. The left radical 讠(a simplified version of 言) has just two strokes. The right side is the same 身 and 寸 components, but written more compactly.

If you are writing to someone in mainland China, use 谢谢. If you are writing to someone in Taiwan, Hong Kong, or a heritage Chinese community in North America or Australia, 謝謝 is the expected form. When in doubt, either form is understood — no Chinese speaker will be confused by seeing the other script.

How to Write 謝謝 — Stroke Order

Why Stroke Order Matters

Chinese characters are not drawn randomly. Every character follows a stroke order — the sequence in which each line, dot, and hook is made. Getting stroke order right helps your handwriting look natural and balanced. It also builds the muscle memory that makes writing faster and more automatic. Teachers, parents, and heritage learners all notice when a character's strokes flow in the right direction.

The main rules for Chinese stroke order are:

• Write from top to bottom — higher parts come before lower parts.

• Write from left to right — left components before right components.

• Horizontal strokes usually come before vertical strokes that cross them.

• Outside frames are written before inside content, but the closing bottom stroke comes last.

Writing 謝 Step by Step

The traditional character 謝 is written in three sections: the left radical 言, then the middle part 身, then the right part 寸. Here is how to approach it:

1. Start with 言 (the speech radical, left side). Write a short horizontal stroke at the top, then a dot angled to the right, then three horizontal lines stacked below. These five strokes form the left side of the character.

2. Write 身 (the middle component). Begin with a slanting stroke from upper left toward lower right, then a horizontal stroke, then a vertical stroke, then two short lines, then a final curved stroke at the bottom. This section takes about eight strokes in the traditional form.

3. Finish with 寸 (the measure radical, right side). Write a short horizontal stroke, cross it with a vertical stroke, then add a dot below. These three strokes complete the character.

Tip: Practise each section of 謝 separately before writing the full character. Most learners find 言 easiest to start with because it is a common radical that appears in many other characters — 語 (language), 說 (speak), 請 (please).

The Simplified Stroke Order for 谢

For the simplified form 谢, the left radical is 讠— just two strokes: a short dot and a short curved stroke below it. This makes the character noticeably faster to write. The middle 身 and right 寸 sections remain similar in structure. If you are learning simplified, start with the quick 讠 on the left, then build the rest of the character to the right.

Remember: you write the full word 謝謝 (or 谢谢) twice — the same character repeated. So once you have practised writing 謝 or 谢 five to ten times, writing the full thank you is just repeating the same motion.

What to Write in Different Situations

Handwritten Thank-You Cards

A handwritten Chinese thank-you note always makes an impression. For a card to a teacher, a grandparent, or a host family, write 謝謝您 (xièxiè nín). The added 您 is a respectful form of "you" and signals that you are being particularly considerate. Here are some short phrases you can write in a card:

Writing Thank You in Business Contexts

In a business email or formal letter, you usually write 感謝 (gǎnxiè) rather than 謝謝. 感謝 carries more weight in professional contexts. You might open with 感謝您的回覆 (gǎnxiè nín de huífù) — "thank you for your reply" — or close with 非常感謝您的協助 (fēicháng gǎnxiè nín de xiézhù) — "thank you very much for your assistance."

For formal documents or official acknowledgements, 敬謝 (jìng xiè) — "respectfully grateful" — is sometimes used. You will see this at the end of formal invitations or official letters. It is rarely used in everyday speech, but knowing how to write it shows a deeper knowledge of written Chinese.

Writing Thank You in Text Messages

In a text or a messaging app like LINE or WeChat, people often write 謝謝 in full, but you will also see shortened forms. 謝了 (xiè le) is common between friends — it means "thanks" and feels relaxed. On social media in Taiwan, you might see 感謝 used without 您 or 你 to sound warm but not overly formal. In mainland Chinese texts, 谢谢 is standard, and 多谢 (duō xiè, many thanks) is popular in southern China and among Cantonese speakers.

More Ways to Write Thank You in Chinese

When You Need Something More Than 謝謝

Sometimes 謝謝 feels too ordinary for what you want to express. Chinese gives you a full range of written gratitude phrases, from the lightest nod to the deepest thanks. Here are the most useful ones to know how to write:

Note: In most everyday situations — cards, messages, casual notes — 謝謝 or 謝謝你 covers everything you need. Save 感謝 and 非常感謝 for work emails and formal letters. 萬分感謝 and 衷心感謝 belong in speeches or printed acknowledgements.

What to Write When Someone Thanks You

Knowing how to write thank you is only half the picture. When you write back to someone who has thanked you, you have several options depending on how formal the exchange is:

• 不客氣 (bù kèqì) — "you're welcome" / "don't mention it." The most common written response. Works in all situations.

• 不用謝 (bù yòng xiè) — "no need to thank me." Friendly and relaxed, good for messages.

• 應該的 (yīnggāi de) — "it's what I should do." Shows humility and warmth, common in Taiwan.

• 小事一樁 (xiǎo shì yī zhuāng) — "it was nothing." Modest, for when someone thanks you effusively.

How to Type Thank You in Chinese

On a Phone or Tablet

The easiest way to write thank you in Chinese on a phone is to use the built-in Pinyin keyboard. Here is the process for both iOS and Android:

1. Open Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard (iOS) or Settings → General management → Language and input → On-screen keyboard (Android).

2. Add Chinese (Traditional) for 謝謝, or Chinese (Simplified) for 谢谢.

3. Switch to the Chinese keyboard by tapping the globe or language key.

4. Type xie xie or xiexie — the device will suggest 謝謝 or 谢谢 as a candidate.

5. Tap the character suggestion to insert 謝謝 into your message.

On a Computer

On a Mac, go to System Preferences → Keyboard → Input Sources and add the Traditional or Simplified Chinese Pinyin input. On Windows, go to Settings → Time & Language → Language → Add a preferred language and install Chinese. Once installed, switch to Chinese input from the taskbar language menu, type xiexie, and press space or number keys to select the characters from the candidate list.

Tip: Most Pinyin input methods are smart — if you type the whole word xiexie without spaces, they usually recognise it and offer 謝謝 as the top candidate. You do not need to type each syllable separately.

Copy and Paste

If you just need to write thank you in Chinese quickly without changing your keyboard, you can always copy the characters directly: 謝謝 (traditional) or 谢谢 (simplified). Paste them into your message, card, or document. This works perfectly well for a one-off situation. If you write in Chinese regularly, setting up a Pinyin keyboard will save you much more time in the long run.

Practising Your Chinese Writing

Writing Chinese characters well takes time. Most learners find that ten to fifteen minutes of daily practice is more effective than one long session per week. Here are a few approaches that work:

• Grid paper practice. Chinese character practice books use square grids so each character fits neatly into its box. This trains you to keep proportions correct. You can print square-grid paper or buy Chinese writing practice books.

• Trace first, then write from memory. Trace 謝謝 several times while paying attention to each stroke. Then cover the example and write from memory. Repeat until the muscle memory is there.

• Use a stroke-order app. Apps like Skritter, Chinese Writer, or Pleco show animated stroke order for every character. Type or search for 謝謝 and watch the animation, then practice on the app's writing pad.

• Write it in context. Instead of drilling 謝謝 in isolation, write short phrases: 謝謝你的幫助 (thank you for your help), 謝謝你的禮物 (thank you for the gift). Writing in sentences helps your brain store the character as part of real communication, not just a symbol on paper.

For children learning Chinese at a heritage school or at home, practicing 謝謝 is often one of the earliest and most motivating writing tasks — because it is immediately useful. When a child writes 謝謝 on a birthday card for a grandparent who reads Chinese, the effort matters and they know it.

FAQ

How do you write thank you in Chinese?

You write thank you in Chinese as 謝謝 in traditional script, or 谢谢 in simplified script. Both are read xiè xie. Traditional is used in Taiwan and Hong Kong; simplified is used in mainland China.

What is the difference between 謝謝 and 谢谢?

謝謝 is the traditional Chinese form; 谢谢 is the simplified form. Both mean thank you and are pronounced identically: xiè xie. The difference is in the number of strokes — traditional 謝 has 17 strokes, simplified 谢 has 12. No meaning is lost; it is purely a script difference.

How many strokes does 謝 have?

The traditional character 謝 has 17 strokes. The simplified 谢 has 12 strokes. When you write thank you in Chinese, you write the same character twice — 謝謝 or 谢谢 — so the full word is 34 strokes (traditional) or 24 strokes (simplified).

How do I type thank you in Chinese on a keyboard?

Switch your device to a Chinese (Pinyin) keyboard, type xiexie without spaces, and select 謝謝 or 谢谢 from the candidate list. On iOS, add Chinese under Settings → Keyboards. On Windows, add Chinese under Settings → Language. On Mac, add Chinese Pinyin under System Preferences → Input Sources.