Imagine this scenario: A Chinese friend says to you, "Wow, your Chinese is amazing!"
If you smile and simply say 谢谢 (Xièxiè - Thank you), you haven't made a grammar mistake, but you might have made a slight cultural one.
In Western culture, accepting a compliment graciously is the standard polite response. In traditional Chinese culture, however, directly accepting praise can be perceived as arrogant. The cultural standard—heavily influenced by Confucian values of humility—is to deflect, deny, or redirect.
For HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) test-takers, this dynamic appears constantly in Listening dialogues (HSK 3/4) and cultural reading passages (HSK 5/6). To score well and build genuine relationships, you need to master the art of the "Humble Reply."
This guide moves beyond the textbook phrases to teach you how to respond to praise with the elegance of a native speaker.
The Spectrum of Modesty: Vocabulary Levels
When you receive a compliment, your response depends on who is speaking (a boss vs. a friend) and the setting.
Level 1: The Classic Deflection (Textbook / Traditional)
These phrases are safe, formal, and constantly tested in HSK materials.
| Phrase | Pinyin | Literal Meaning | Usage | HSK Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 哪里哪里 | Nǎlǐ nǎlǐ | Where? Where? | "Where is this 'talent' you speak of?" Used to politely reject praise. | HSK 4 |
| 过奖了 | Guòjiǎng le | You have over-praised. | Extremely formal. Use with bosses or elders. | HSK 5 |
| 不敢当 | Bùgǎndāng | I dare not accept (the title/honor). | Used when given a serious honor or title you feel you haven't earned yet. | HSK 5 |
Note on Modern Usage: While Nǎlǐ nǎlǐ is the gold standard in textbooks, many younger Chinese people (Millennials/Gen Z) now find it a bit "old school" or overly stiff. However, for HSK exams, it remains the correct answer!
Level 2: The Soft Deflection (Common / Casual)
Use these with friends or colleagues to show you aren't arrogant without being stiffly formal.
- 没有没有 (Méiyǒu méiyǒu)
- Meaning: No, no.
- Usage: The most common conversational response. Say it quickly twice.
- 你太客气了 (Nǐ tài kèqi le)
- Meaning: You are too polite/courteous.
- Usage: Use this when someone brings you a gift or compliments your home.
- Grammar Note: Uses the Tai... Le structure for emphasis.
- 还没(有)呢 (Hái méiyǒu ne)
- Meaning: Not yet.
- Context: If someone praises your skills (e.g., "You are an expert!"), say "I haven't reached that level yet."
Grammar Patterns: Constructing Your Own Denial
You don't always have to rely on set phrases. Advanced speakers use rhetorical questions and specific sentence patterns to deflect praise logic.
1. The "Na You" Rhetorical Question (HSK 4)
This is an oral staple. It softens the rejection by turning it into a light protest.
Subject + 哪有 + Statement
- Compliment: "You look so beautiful today!"
- Response: 哪有你说的那么好？(Nǎyǒu nǐ shuō de nàme hǎo?)
- Translation: Where is it as good as you say? (Implying: You are exaggerating).
2. "Hai" + "Cha De Yuan" (HSK 5)
If you want to show you are hardworking but modest about your current level.
- Phrase: 差得远呢。(Chà de yuǎn ne.)
- Meaning: (My level) is still far off.
- Usage: "Your Chinese is great!" -> "Nali, cha de yuan ne" (No, I still have a long way to go).
3. Redirecting Credit (Attribution)
Rather than rejecting the praise, credit someone else. This is "Mianzi" (Face) martial arts—you accept the praise but immediately pass it to the group.
- Pattern: 多亏了... (Duōkuī le...) - Thanks to...
- Sentence: 多亏了大家的帮助。(Duōkuī le dàjiā de bāngzhù.)
- Meaning: It is thanks to everyone's help.
Learn more about interacting with groups in our guide on Chinese business culture etiquette.
Situational Scripts: What to Say When...
The HSK exams often present "Social Situations" where you must choose the most culturally appropriate response.
Scenario A: The "Guanxi" Building (Professional)
- Boss: "Your project proposal was excellent. Good job."
- Wrong Response: "Yes, I know. I worked hard." (Too proud).
- Correct Response: "谢谢领导肯定，这是团队努力的结果。"
- (Xièxiè lǐngdǎo kěndìng, zhè shì tuánduì nǔlì de jiéguǒ.)
- Trans: Thank you leadership for the confirmation; this is the result of team effort.
Scenario B: The Appearance Compliment
- Friend: "You look so young!"
- Modern Response: "借你吉言！" (Jiè nǐ jí yán!)
- Trans: "I borrow your lucky words!" (Meaning: I hope what you say comes true). This is a witty, positive response.
Scenario C: The "Your Chinese is Good" (Classic)
- Local: "Wow, your Chinese is so standard!"
- Standard HSK Response: "哪里哪里，马马虎虎。" (Where where, just so-so).
- Realistic Native Response: "谢谢，我还在努力学。" (Thanks, I am still working hard at it.)
If you need help discussing your learning journey, review our Self-Introduction Guide.
Advanced Vocabulary for High Scores (HSK 6)
In HSK 6 Reading comprehension, writers often use Chengyu (Idioms) to describe humility.
- 虚怀若谷 (xū huái ruò gǔ): Be extremely open-minded and modest (literally: chest like a valley).
- 深藏不露 (shēn cáng bú lù): Hiding one's light under a bushel (talent is hidden, not exposed).
- 班门弄斧 (bān mén nòng fǔ): Showing off one's slight talent before an expert (Self-deprecating).
- Usage: "In front of you, my skills are just Ban Men Nong Fu."
Check out our full list of Chinese idioms for HSK success.
Summary Checklist
- With Elders/Formal: Use Guojiang le or Nali nali.
- With Friends: Use Meiyou meiyou or Zhende ma? (Really?).
- Modern Shift: It is okay to say Xiexie (Thank you) now, but add a softener ("Thank you, but I still have lots to learn").
- Cultural Rule: Modesty is about harmony. Denying a compliment isn't lying; it's protecting the other person from feeling inferior and showing that you value improvement over status.
By mastering these responses, you stop sounding like a foreign language student and start interacting like a member of the culture.
Ready to practice? Now that you can navigate compliments, learn how to handle the tougher parts of conversation with our guide on Deflecting awkward personal questions in Chinese.