How to express and receive gratitude
Common phrases for being polite in English might be inappropriate in Chinese culture.
Here is a list of phrases which are more appropriate.
How to respond to praise
The common Chinese response to praise will be disagreeing. Many short phrases refute the compliment, and "no", "not at all", "it’s not true", can be used:
哪里哪里 
— this answer is more common for girls.
— this answer is more common for girls.Examples
您太棒了！—— 哪里哪里
You’re amazing! — That’s not true
nín tài bàng le! — nǎlǐ nǎlǐ
过奖过奖 — use this response when you get high praise.
— use this response when you get high praise.Examples
过奖过奖，我没有那么聪明
You’re flattering me, I'm not that smart
guòjiǎng guòjiǎng, wǒ méiyǒu nàme cōngming
一般一般 — use this response when you think you haven’t done anything special.
— use this response when you think you haven’t done anything special.
Examples
你唱得太好！—— 一般一般
You sing so well! — Oh, it’s nothing special
nǐ chàng de tài hǎo le! — yìbān yìbān
不敢当 — use this response if you think you don’t deserve the praise.
— use this response if you think you don’t deserve the praise.Examples
不敢当，我只是做了我应该做的事情
You’re flattering me, I just did what I was supposed to do
bù gǎndāng, wǒ zhǐshì zuò le wǒ yīnggāi zuò de shìqín
这样的奖励我真是不敢当
I don’t deserve the praise
zhèyàng de jiǎnglì wǒ zhēnshi bù gǎndāng
How to say "thank you"
The most common way is 谢谢 . We often mention the person we address, e.g. 谢谢你 .
. We often mention the person we address, e.g. 谢谢你 .感谢 . Although it’s a verb, it is often used together with an adverb to express gratitude, e.g.
非常感谢
万分感谢
. Although it’s a verb, it is often used together with an adverb to express gratitude, e.g.
非常感谢
万分感谢 辛苦了 — it’s used to thank a person who did some work for you. You can add the addressee at the beginning, e.g. 你辛苦了 or 您辛苦了.
— it’s used to thank a person who did some work for you. You can add the addressee at the beginning, e.g. 你辛苦了 or 您辛苦了.麻烦你 or 麻烦你了 "sorry for troubling you" is used to thank someone for a favour and apologise for troubling them.
麻烦你 can also be used to ask for a favour, e.g.:
or 麻烦你了 "sorry for troubling you" is used to thank someone for a favour and apologise for troubling them.
麻烦你 can also be used to ask for a favour, e.g.:Examples
麻烦你把这封信交给我夫人
Please give this letter to my wife
máfan nǐ bǎ zhè fēng xìn jiāo gěi wǒ fūrén
How to respond to "thank you"
不客气 or 不用谢客气
不用谢 , 不谢 or 不用不用
小意思 — it’s used as a response to someone who expressed gratitude for your gift.
or 不用谢客气
不用谢 , 不谢 or 不用不用
小意思 — it’s used as a response to someone who expressed gratitude for your gift.