Meaning of 没关系
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- it doesn't matter
How to use 没关系
This is the standard reply when someone says sorry, and it can also reassure someone that a small problem is fine. Example: 对不起。没关系。(Duìbuqǐ. Méi guānxi.) Sorry. It's okay.
没 (méi) means 'not have' and 关系 (guānxi) means 'connection' or 'relation'. If something has no connection to the real problem, then 'it doesn't matter'.
Common mistake: Learners often write 没 with the similar-looking 设 (shè) or 汶, so remember 没 has the water radical 氵 on the left. Also, 系 in 关系 is usually said in the neutral tone, so say guānxi, not guānxì, in this phrase.
没关系 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
没 méi · have not · 7 strokes
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关 guān · mountain pass · 6 strokes
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系 xì · system · 7 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 没关系.
| 没有 | méiyǒu | haven't; hasn't |
| 没什么 | méi shénme | it doesn't matter; it's nothing; never mind; think nothing of it; it's my pleasure; you're |
| 关上 | guānshang | to close (a door); to turn off (light, electrical equipment etc) |
| 没事儿 | méishìr | to have spare time; free from work |
| 关心 | guānxīn | to be concerned about; to care about |
| 关机 | guānjī | to turn off (a machine or device); to finish shooting a film |
| 关系 | guānxì | relation; relationship; connection; to concern; to involve; to affect |
| 联系 | liánxì | connection; contact |
| 没用 | méiyòng | useless |
| 关注 | guānzhù | to pay attention to; to follow sth closely; to follow (on social media); concern; interest |
| 相关 | xiāngguān | related; relevant |
| 海关 | hǎiguān | customs (i.e. border crossing inspection) |
Questions about 没关系
What does 没关系 mean?
没关系 (méi guānxi) means "it doesn't matter".
How do you write 没关系?
没关系 is made of 3 characters: 没 (7 strokes), 关 (6 strokes), 系 (7 strokes). That is 20 strokes in total.
Is 没关系 an HSK word?
Yes. 没关系 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 没关系 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 没关系 is written 沒關係.
What is the difference between 没关系 and 不客气?
没关系 (méi guānxi) answers an apology and means 'it's okay'. 不客气 (bú kèqi) answers a thank you and means 'you're welcome'. Mixing them up is a common beginner slip.
Can 没关系 be used to mean 'it has nothing to do with'?
Yes. With 跟 or 和 it means 'unrelated to', as in 这跟你没关系 (zhè gēn nǐ méi guānxi), 'this has nothing to do with you'. Be careful, because in this pattern it can sound cold or dismissive.