Usage note
客气表示礼貌、谦让。
kè qì biǎo shì lǐ mào 、 qiān ràng。
Polite means courteous or modest.
Context note
客气常出现在道谢、邀请和拒绝里。
kè qì cháng chū xiàn zài dào xiè 、 yāo qǐng hé jù jué lǐ。
Politeness often appears in thanks, invitations, and refusals.
5 examples
不用客气。
bú yòng kè qì。
You are welcome.
他很客气。
tā hěn kè qì。
He is very polite.
请别客气。
qǐng bié kè qì。
Please do not be polite.
大家都很客气。
dà jiā dōu hěn kè qì。
Everyone is very polite.
说话要客气。
shuō huà yào kè qì。
You should speak politely.
5 mini stories
朋友帮了我，我说不用客气。
péng yǒu bāng le wǒ， wǒ shuō bú yòng kè qì。
A friend helped me, and I said you are welcome.
老师很客气地和家长说话。
lǎo shī hěn kè qì dì hé jiā zhǎng shuō huà。
The teacher spoke very politely with the parents.
客人来了，妈妈总是很客气。
kè rén lái le， mā ma zǒng shì hěn kè qì。
When guests come, Mom is always very polite.
他说话很客气，让人觉得很舒服。
tā shuō huà hěn kè qì， ràng rén jué de hěn shū fú。
He speaks very politely and makes people feel comfortable.
我们在学校里要学会客气。
wǒ men zài xué xiào lǐ yào xué huì kè qì。
We should learn to be polite at school.
Mini dialogue
去朋友家
A
请进，随便坐，别客气。
Qǐng jìn, suíbiàn zuò, bié kèqi.
Please come in, sit anywhere, don't be polite (make yourself at home).
B
谢谢，你太客气了。
Xièxie, nǐ tài kèqi le.
Thank you, you are too polite.
分享零食
A
尝尝我做的饼干，不用客气。
Cháng cháng wǒ zuò de bǐnggān, bùyòng kèqi.
Try the cookies I made, don't be polite (help yourself).
B
那我就不客气了，谢谢你。
Nà wǒ jiù bù kèqi le, xièxie nǐ.
Then I won't be polite (I'll help myself), thank you.
Related words and contrasts
similar
礼貌
lǐmào
polite; courtesy
礼貌 is a general word for politeness and good manners
related
不客气
bú kèqi
you're welcome
不客气 is a polite reply meaning 'you're welcome'