不要紧

bùyào jǐn
phrase★Intermediate
◆ What It Really Means
It's not a big deal; it's okay.
Literal Meaning
Not urgent/serious.
Literal Breakdown
不要don't need+紧urgent/serious
◇ Mental Image
A situation that is not pressing or important.
◈ When to Use
When someone is worried about a minor issue, you can say '不要紧' to reassure them.
◉ Cultural Note
This phrase reflects the Chinese cultural tendency to downplay problems and maintain a calm demeanor.
informal

It doesn't matter; it's okay; no problem

别担心，这件事不要紧。

Don't worry, it's no big deal.

我迟到了，不要紧吗？

I'm late. Is that okay?

💡

A common phrase used to reassure someone or downplay a situation. It can also be used to ask if something is acceptable.

Collocations

不要紧的not serious不要紧吧it's okay, right?

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

没问题phrase
no problem
没关系phrase
it's okay

💡Pro Tip

Common Usage

This phrase is very common in daily conversation and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

⚡Gold Rule

Reassurance

Use this phrase to reassure someone or to downplay a situation.

📖Word Origin

Combination of 不要 (don't need) and 紧 (urgent/serious), literally meaning 'not urgent/serious'.

📝Usage Notes

Often used in casual conversation to reassure someone or to indicate that something is not a big deal. Can also be used to ask if something is acceptable.

Word Breakdown

不要
don't need
phrase
+
紧
urgent/serious
adjective
汉英词典