Wa! 22 Bold Chinese Interjections You Need to Learn Today

Finding a quick, appropriate response during a conversation can be challenging when developing your Chinese speaking skills.

Interjections and rejoinders add a more natural feel to your Chinese. These are common phrases I acquired mostly by hearing Chinese friends use them repeatedly, and eventually became part of my own spoken Chinese.

Start using these Chinese interjections below that not only pack a powerful punch, but also show that you’ve been listening to your native-speaking friends and acknowledge what they’re feeling.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Chinese Interjections for Expressing Sympathy

那当然了！ (nà dāng rán le!)

English: Of course!

You totally agree, and the setting is probably rather lighthearted.

Examples of usage:

• A friend remarks that it’s raining again (during the rainy season)
• You’re asked if you’d like to join some coworkers at your favorite restaurant for lunch
• Someone brings up how expensive a new BMW is

那当然了! could be a good response to all of those situations.

太可惜了！ (tài kě xī le!)

English: That’s too bad!

Chinese people who know English often use “What a pity!” when expressing this sentiment. You show empathy for disappointment.

Examples of usage:

• A friend has to cancel social plans to work late
• You find a shirt you like at a shop, but your favorite color is out of stock
• Your reservation at a restaurant got mixed up, and you’ll have to wait 15 minutes for a table

好好休息！ (hǎo hǎo xiū xi!)

English: Rest up!

This might be said to someone who just said they’d gotten sick, or who has just finished a huge task—like exam week.

Examples of usage:

• A fellow student seems to have developed a cough
• A coworker talks about all the extra hours put in for a sales presentation they just completed
• Someone is about to get a week’s break from school

保重自己 (bǎo zhòng zì jǐ)

English: Take care of yourself

Someone just shared sad personal news, extra demands at work/school or similar difficult circumstances. And you share empathy with them by encouraging the person not to forget to take care of themselves amid those difficulties.

This phrase’s usage is the same as 好好休息! above.

Chinese Interjections for Expressing Amazement

不错！ (bù cuò!)

English: Not bad!

Though warm, this is an understated phrase and sometimes seems used for praise that comes somewhat unexpected.

Examples of usage:

• Someone did a bike trick pretty well
• Your friend shows you their non-expert—but decent—sample of calligraphy
• You’re eating Western food at a restaurant in China

厉害！ (lì hài!)

English: Awesome!

I may be revealing my age by using “awesome” as an English equivalent of this interjection.

In more modern American slang, “sick!” is used similarly. This is used to praise another person for something they’ve done.

Examples of usage:

• Someone is a great dancer
• A friend gave you a really complex origami they folded for you
• A driver maneuvered through chaotic traffic skillfully, preventing you from getting stuck in a traffic jam

哇(噻)！ (wā [sāi])

English: Wow!

The news was good, and you’re celebrating!

哇噻! seems more common in the northeast of China. I heard 哇! more when I lived in Southwest China.

Examples of usage:

• Your friend got a great price for that cute, new purse she has
• What a great score your friend earned on a test
• You just learned what a great singer your friend is during karaoke

Chinese Interjections for Expressing Thanks

谢谢！ (xiè xie!)

English: Thanks!

Simple, and easy. Feel more thankful? You can say it twice (谢谢, 谢谢！) or use the variations below:

谢谢你 (xiè xie nǐ)

太谢谢你！ (tài xiè xie nǐ) with emphasis on 太

Note that saying thanks directly comes off as too formal or distant among friends and family. But with people you don’t know well, certainly use it.

你(太)辛苦了！ (nǐ [tài] xīn kǔ le!)

English: You’ve done so much!

Here’s a classic way to thank someone who has helped you by doing something for you.

Examples of usage:

• Thank someone for preparing a wonderful meal
• Thank your child’s teacher
• Thank someone who hosted you and cared for your needs during a visit

你想得这么周到！ (nǐ xiǎng de zhè me zhōu dào!)

English: This is so thoughtful of you!

Someone has shown great attention to your needs or preferences.

Perhaps he or she sent you flowers, made you your favorite meal when you visited or took care to prepare every detail of travel arrangements for you.

Chinese Interjections for Politely Responding to Praise

哪里哪里 (nă lĭ nă lĭ)

English: Not at all.

This phrase works as a humble response to a compliment.

It means “Where? Where?”, suggesting that you can’t see anything worthy of someone’s thanks or praise.

However, it seems less common with younger Chinese people, and even with older generations, it can come off as too insincere if overused.

Examples of usage:

• A stranger says your Chinese is very good
• Someone praises a task you’ve done for them
• Someone compliments your skill or style

不敢当！ (bù găn dāng!)

English: I’m hardly all that!

You’ve received some praise, and defer it by saying you “don’t dare to be” as excellent as their praise suggests. This feels somewhat more formal than 哪里，哪里.

Examples of usage:

• When someone introduces you as a non-native Chinese speaker with incredible Mandarin
• Someone says you’re the best mom or dad they know
• A coworker suggests that you’re certain to be promoted since you’re talented and hard-working

彼此彼此！ (bĭ cĭ bĭ cĭ!)

English: Right back at you!

Someone has complimented you, and you politely receive the compliment by saying that they, too, are worthy of the same praise.

However, it’s more formal than the American phrase “back at you!”

Don’t say this to someone who’s your boss or other authority figure. Use the above-mentioned 不敢当! instead.

Examples of usage:

• A peer coworker compliments your excellent work
• A friend you often visit for dinner compliments your cooking skills
• Someone tells you how nice you look today

我还在努力！ (wǒ hái zài nǔ lì!)

English: I’ve got a long way to go!

More literally, this means “I’m still working hard.”

Someone has complimented your (fairly functional) Chinese or other skill, and you reply by suggesting you’re still working on that skill.

This is my preferred way to defer any compliments about my Chinese because it feels so real to me. There truly is always more to learn and improvements to be made.

Any skill from performing music to language ability to playing a sport could be in view with this response.

Chinese Interjections for Expressing Disgust or Surprise

哎呀！ (āi yā!)

English: Oh no!

This multifaceted interjection expresses disbelief, disgust and/or irritation.

Examples of usage:

• You just stepped on something
• You dropped your coffee cup
• You stubbed your toe
• You had a bad hair day you can’t fix

真讨厌！ (zhēn tǎo yàn!)

English: Gross!

This Chinese interjection is for expressing disgust for what you heard, described or just saw.

Examples of usage:

• A nasty bug just crawled across the floor
• Your trashcan is really smelly
• Someone’s behavior is inappropriate and rude

真没想到！ (zhēn méi xiǎng dào!)

English: Who would’ve thought?!

This response shows you’re listening to someone telling you somewhat surprising news, whether good or bad.

Examples of usage:

• You arrive at a popular restaurant only to find it’s closed
• Every weather report predicted snow, but instead the weather is sunny and warm
• The parking garage at the mall is full on a weekday early afternoon

原来是这样！ (yuán lái shì zhè yàng!) / 原来如此！ (yuán lái rú cǐ)

English: So it turned out it’s that way!

Something turned out differently than previous expectations or experience suggested.

Examples of usage:

• Your friend corrects your confusion about the meaning of a Chinese word
• Your landlord points to a clause in the lease that shows why you’re expected to pay six months of rent at a time
• Someone explains to you about different Chinese regional cooking styles

Chinese Interjections for Keeping the Conversation Going

These are perfect for keeping the ball rolling, even if you need to fake it a bit.

真的吗？ (zhēn de ma?)

English: Really?

What you heard impressed you in some way, and you want to hear more about it.

Examples of usage:

• A friend tells you he signed up for an online dating service
• While shopping, your friend suggests you try on a blouse you aren’t sure about
• A friend announces that she’s just gotten engaged

就是 (jiù shì)

English: That’s just it.

You really agree with the person you’re talking with.

Examples of usage:

• You’re discussing what that flavor must be in the noodle dish you’re sharing, and your friend suggests it’s Sichuan peppercorn
• After exercising, your workout buddy suggests that you must be thirsty
• Someone asks if your apartment really is on the top floor of the building

嗯 (èn) / 哦 (ò)

English: Ahh… / uh huh

The meanings of these interjections depend on your intonation.

A firm downward tone shows affirmation. A rising tone shows questioning or surprise.

Using these interjections shows that you’re listening attentively without interrupting the other person speaking.

Switching your version of “um” or “uh huh” to more Chinese-sounding interjections helps reduce some of the sense of social distance caused by different languages. Just don’t overuse them!

你是说…… (nǐ shì shuō…) / 那是说…… (nà shì shuō…)

English: So you mean to say…

These phrases indicate that you’re going to rephrase what the other speaker said, but in your own words. Basically, to sum up and check that you understood.

This phrase can also allow you to collect your thoughts (as in this Thai example).

After hearing someone describe their opinion of a situation, you might use this phrase to introduce your rephrasing of their main points.

How to Learn Chinese Interjections

• Listen to Chinese interjections in natural situations. To use these phrases naturally, you need to reflect the tone of voice used by native speakers. Authentic videos (made by and for native Chinese speakers) can provide helpful examples of when and how natives actually use interjections. For example, FluentU is based on native Chinese videos for this reason.

  FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

  You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

  P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

  

  Try FluentU for FREE!

• Pick out your favorite responses. Make a short list of responses you think you’ll use often, then post them somewhere you’ll see a lot. A list on your phone? Maybe a note by the bathroom mirror, or on the refrigerator door? Starting with only two or three and slowly adding more would be better than memorizing a long list all at once.
• Use charts. If you find lists work for you, you can even make a chart to show your progress with phrases you’ve just begun to work with, those you know fairly well and those you’ve really mastered.
• Learn with the pinyin first. Later, as the phrases are familiar by sound, you could replace the pinyin with characters and develop your reading ability, too.
• Color code the interjections for tones. Adding colors to your pinyin may help you recall tones better. There’s more than one way to color-code tones; try and see which you prefer. Sites like Purple Culture and TerryWaltz.com will allow you to type and get pinyin with a color automatically added to each tone. Copy and paste the results into a document you can print or view on a device.

 

These short Chinese interjections will enhance your conversational skills, make you sound more natural and impress native speakers.

Keep these phrases handy the next time you’re conversing and give them a try!

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)