客气

The Chinese word 客气 (kèqi) is composed of two characters: 客 (kè), meaning "guest," and 气 (qì), meaning "air" or "manner." Together, these characters convey the idea of treating someone with respect and politeness, as if they were a guest in your home. The term 客气 can be used as a noun, meaning "courtesy" or "politeness," or as a verb, meaning "to be polite" or "to show respect." For example, you might say 您好，请坐 (nǐ hǎo, qǐng zuò), which means "Hello, please sit down," to show respect to a guest. Or, you might say 不客气 (bú kèqi), which means "You're welcome," to express your appreciation for someone's kindness. The term 客气 is an important part of Chinese culture, and it is essential for learners of Chinese to understand its meaning and usage.