Chinese word

谢天谢地

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiè tiān xiè dì

Meaning

  • interjectionthank goodness

Example

谢天谢地，他没事。xiè tiān xiè dì tā méi shì

Thank goodness, he's okay.

Illustration for 谢天谢地 (thank goodness)

More examples

看到孩子平安归来，他忍不住说：谢天谢地。kàn dào hái zi píng ān guī lái tā rěn bú zhù shuō xiè tiān xiè dì

Seeing his child return safely, he couldn't help saying "Thank goodness".

Core concept

Relief breaks through after danger or trouble passes, expressed as thanks for the favorable outcome.

Common phrases

  • 忍不住说谢天谢地rěn bú zhù shuō xiè tiān xiè dì

    couldn't help saying thank goodness

  • 当场说谢天谢地dāng chǎng shuō xiè tiān xiè dì

    say thank goodness on the spot

Similar words

太好了tài hǎo le: Shows happiness and approval when the result is very good.
还好hái hǎo: Shows quiet relief when things have not become seriously difficult.
好险háo xiǎn: Shows surprise and relief when danger is avoided at the last moment.

Definition in Chinese

用于口语，表示遇到危险或麻烦的事情结束后对结果感到庆幸并表示感谢的感叹词。yòng yú kóu yǔ biǎo shì yù dào wēi xiǎn huò má fán de shì qíng jié shù hòu duì jié guǒ gǎn dào qìng xìng bìng biǎo shì gǎn xiè de gǎn tàn cí

Word origin

谢天谢地 (xiètiānxièdì, "thank heaven and earth") uses 天 (tiān, "heaven") and 地 (dì, "earth") as the powers being thanked, while repeating 谢 (xiè, "thank") gives the expression extra force.

Usage tips

  • This interjection can open a sentence about a safe result or stand alone after good news, so its position often signals whether it comments on what follows or closes the reaction.

Other meanings

  • fortunatelyadjective

Word lists with this word