客气
kèqiPolite, courteous, or considerate in behavior or speech
你太客气了！
You're too polite!
他总是很客气地对待客人。
He always treats guests politely.
Can also imply being overly modest or formal in social interactions.
To be overly modest or formal in a way that seems insincere or excessive
别客气，随便吃。
Don't be so polite, just help yourself.
他总是客气，让人觉得不太真诚。
He's always so polite, it feels insincere.
In this sense, it can be used to gently criticize someone for being overly formal or reserved.
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💡Pro Tip
Politeness vs. Insincerity
In Chinese, '客气' can sometimes imply that someone is being overly formal or insincere, especially in informal contexts.
⚡Gold Rule
Context Matters
The tone of voice and context can change the nuance of '客气' from genuine politeness to excessive formality.
📖Word Origin
From 客 (guest) + 气 (manner), originally referring to the proper way to treat guests, now generalized to polite behavior in general.
📝Usage Notes
Can be used as an adjective to describe behavior or as a verb meaning 'to be polite' or 'to refuse something politely.'