不胜感激
Extremely grateful
Littéralement: Cannot (不) bear/surpass (胜) gratitude (感激)
Use it in formal emails or for life-changing favors to show your gratitude is truly overwhelming.
En 15 secondes
- The 'ultimate' thank you for big favors.
- Best used in formal writing or serious situations.
- Shows you are educated, respectful, and deeply sincere.
Signification
This phrase is the ultimate way to say 'I can't thank you enough.' It describes a level of gratitude so deep that it feels overwhelming or impossible to fully express.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Writing a formal email to a professor for a reference
若能得到您的推荐，学生将不胜感激。
If I could receive your recommendation, I would be extremely grateful.
A colleague helps you fix a major error before a deadline
这次多亏你帮忙，我不胜感激。
I'm extremely grateful for your help this time.
Texting a close mentor after they give you career advice
您的指点让我受益匪浅，不胜感激！
Your guidance has benefited me greatly; I can't thank you enough!
Contexte culturel
The phrase utilizes the character `胜` (shèng), which in classical Chinese means 'to be able to bear' or 'to sustain.' It reflects the Confucian value of acknowledging favors deeply. Using such formal idioms demonstrates a high level of literacy and social etiquette in Chinese society.
The 'Email Closer' Secret
If you want to sound like a native professional, end your request with '如蒙允准，不胜感激' (If you could grant this, I'd be extremely grateful). It's a power move in business writing.
Don't Overdo It
Using this phrase too often makes it lose its value. Save it for when you truly mean it, or you'll sound like you're trying too hard to be polite.
En 15 secondes
- The 'ultimate' thank you for big favors.
- Best used in formal writing or serious situations.
- Shows you are educated, respectful, and deeply sincere.
What It Means
Think of 不胜感激 as the 'heavy artillery' of thank-yous. While a simple 谢谢 (xièxiè) works for a coffee, this phrase is for the big stuff. It literally means your gratitude is so immense that you can't even contain it. It’s elegant, deep, and carries a lot of emotional weight. You’re telling the other person that their help truly moved you.
How To Use It
You usually place this at the end of a sentence or a request. It’s very common in written Chinese, especially in emails or letters. You might say, 'If you could help me with this, I would be 不胜感激.' It functions like a powerful closing statement. It shows you aren't just being polite; you're being sincere. Don't use it as a standalone exclamation like 'Thanks!'—it needs a bit more structure.
When To Use It
Use this when the stakes are high. Are you asking a professor for a recommendation letter? Use it. Did a colleague stay late to help you finish a project? Use it. It’s perfect for professional settings where you want to sound sophisticated. It also works in serious personal situations. If a friend helps you through a major life crisis, this phrase hits the right note of sincerity.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this for trivial things. If someone passes you the salt, saying 不胜感激 makes you sound like a character in a historical drama. It’s way too intense for casual favors. Also, don't use it with your best friend when they buy you a bubble tea. They’ll probably laugh and ask why you’re acting like a government official. Keep it for moments that actually deserve 'extreme' thanks.
Cultural Background
This phrase has a classical, scholarly feel to it. In Chinese culture, expressing gratitude is often tied to 'mianzi' (face) and social harmony. By using a four-character idiom (chengyu), you show that you are educated and respectful. It stems from a tradition where formal language was used to bridge the gap between people. It’s about showing that you recognize the 'debt' of the favor.
Common Variations
You might also hear 感激不尽 (gǎnjī bùjìn), which means 'gratitude without end.' They are almost interchangeable. Another one is 万分感激 (wànfēn gǎnjī), which literally means 'ten thousand parts of gratitude.' 不胜感激 remains the most formal and 'polished' of the bunch. It’s the gold standard for professional appreciation.
Notes d'usage
This is a high-register expression. Use it in formal writing, business contexts, or when expressing profound personal thanks; avoid it in casual, everyday interactions to prevent sounding 'stiff.'
The 'Email Closer' Secret
If you want to sound like a native professional, end your request with '如蒙允准，不胜感激' (If you could grant this, I'd be extremely grateful). It's a power move in business writing.
Don't Overdo It
Using this phrase too often makes it lose its value. Save it for when you truly mean it, or you'll sound like you're trying too hard to be polite.
The Power of Four
Chinese culture loves four-character idioms (Chengyu). Using `不胜感激` instead of `很感谢` instantly signals that you have a higher level of education and cultural awareness.
Exemples
6若能得到您的推荐，学生将不胜感激。
If I could receive your recommendation, I would be extremely grateful.
A classic way for a student to show high respect to a teacher.
这次多亏你帮忙，我不胜感激。
I'm extremely grateful for your help this time.
Shows professional appreciation for a significant favor.
您的指点让我受益匪浅，不胜感激！
Your guidance has benefited me greatly; I can't thank you enough!
Warm but still maintains a respectful distance.
救命之恩，我不胜感激！
You saved my life (with snacks); I am beyond grateful!
The formality makes the joke work by being intentionally 'extra.'
您救了我家人的命，我们全家都不胜感激。
You saved my family member's life; our whole family is extremely grateful.
Used in a high-stakes, deeply emotional context.
如蒙贵司协助，我不胜感激。
If your company could assist, I would be most grateful.
Standard high-level business correspondence phrasing.
Teste-toi
Choose the most appropriate phrase to complete this formal email to a client.
如果您能抽出时间参加会议，我们将 ___。
`不胜感激` is the only option that matches the formal tone required for a business meeting request.
In which situation is it LEAST appropriate to use '不胜感激'?
当你的朋友 ___ 时，不建议使用这个词。
Passing a tissue is a trivial task; using such a formal phrase would be awkward and overly dramatic.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Gratitude Formality Scale
Super casual, friends only.
Passing a soda.
The standard, safe for everyone.
At a restaurant.
A bit more emphasis, still common.
Colleague helps with a task.
High formality, deep sincerity.
Formal request or major favor.
When to use 不胜感激
Business Email
Requesting a partnership
Academic Request
Asking for a reference
Life Crisis
Someone helps you in an emergency
Formal Speech
Award acceptance or closing remarks
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt is most common in writing, but you can say it out loud in very formal speeches or when expressing deep, sincere thanks in person, like 我真的不胜感激.
It might sound a bit too formal for parents unless you are writing them a very serious letter or thanking them for a massive life sacrifice. Usually, 谢谢 or 辛苦了 is better.
感谢 is a general 'thank you,' while 感激 implies a deeper emotional feeling of being moved or touched by the help.
Yes, if the context is professional or if you are thanking someone for a significant favor. It adds a touch of class to your message.
Actually, it's better to say 我不胜感激 at the end of the sentence or 对您的帮助我不胜感激. It doesn't usually take a direct object like 'you' immediately after it.
Not at all. It is still the standard for high-level professional and formal communication in modern China.
You should respond with something equally polite, like 您太客气了 (You are too polite) or 这是我应该做的 (It's my duty/pleasure).
Yes! If a friend does something tiny but acts like a hero, saying 我不胜感激 with a smirk is a great way to be playful.
No, this is a standard Chengyu used across all Mandarin-speaking regions, including Mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore.
The most common mistake is using it for small, everyday things, which makes the speaker sound socially awkward or overly stiff.
Expressions liées
感激不尽
Boundless gratitude / Can't thank you enough.
万分感激
Extremely grateful (literally: ten-thousand parts grateful).
没齿难忘
Will never forget even until my teeth fall out (eternal gratitude).
多谢关照
Thanks for looking after me (common in business).
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