没什么

• Pinyin: méi shén me
• Hanzi breakdown: 没 = 氵(water) + 殳 (phonetic); 什 = 亻(person) + 十 (ten); 么 = question/indefinite suffix

Meaning

It's nothing; no big deal; not much. A casual way to downplay something or respond modestly.

Used to dismiss thanks, deflect attention, or indicate that nothing important happened. Common in casual conversation as a modest or dismissive reply.

Examples

1. 没什么，这是我应该做的。 It's nothing, it's what I should do.
2. 你在想什么？没什么。 What are you thinking about? Nothing.
3. 今天没什么事。 There's nothing going on today.

Usage Guide

Context: polite, everyday

Tone: modest

Do Say

• 没什么，不用客气。(It's nothing, don't mention it.)
• 今天没什么特别的。(Nothing special today.)

Don't Say

• 在别人认真倾诉后说没什么。(Don't dismiss someone's serious concern with 没什么 — it can seem dismissive; show empathy first)

Origin & History

A contraction of 没有什么 (there isn't anything), shortened to 没什么 in everyday speech.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal