English–Chinese
“polite” in Chinese
How to say “polite” in Chinese
“Polite” in Chinese is 客气 (kè qì).
A respectful social buffer expressed through modest words and ceremonious behavior.
Example sentences with 客气
他总是对长辈很客气，大家都很尊重他。tā zǒng shì duì zhǎng bèi hěn kè qì dà jiā dōu hěn zūn zhòng tā
He is always very polite to his elders, and everyone respects him.
Tips for using 客气
- It often marks the modest tone used when someone downplays thanks, praise, or an offer, rather than simply describing good behavior.
Other Chinese words for “polite”
他很礼貌。tā hěn lǐ mào
He is very polite.
服务员对客人总是彬彬有礼。fú wù yuán duì kè rén zǒng shì bīn bīn yóu lǐ
The server is always polite to the customers.