How to Say “I am full, thanks” in Chinese
Food and dining
"I am full, thanks" in Chinese is 我吃饱了，谢谢 (wǒ chī bǎo le, xiè xiè). 吃饱了 literally means 'eaten full'; 饱 (bǎo) is the resultative complement that tells us the eating reached the state of fullness. At a Chinese dinner table, especially with a host, saying this once usually isn't enough: the host will keep piling food on your plate out of hospitality.
Primary translation
我吃饱了，谢谢
wǒ chī bǎo le, xiè xiè
Traditional: 我吃飽了，謝謝
When to use it
吃饱了 literally means 'eaten full'; 饱 (bǎo) is the resultative complement that tells us the eating reached the state of fullness. At a Chinese dinner table, especially with a host, saying this once usually isn't enough: the host will keep piling food on your plate out of hospitality. The polite move is to say 我吃饱了,真的吃不下了 ('really can't eat any more') with a smile, and leave a little food on your plate to signal you've been well-fed. An empty plate suggests they didn't order enough.
Example sentences
我吃饱了，谢谢阿姨。
Wǒ chī bǎo le, xiè xiè ā yí.
I'm full, thank you auntie.
真的吃饱了，吃不下了。
Zhēn de chī bǎo le, chī bu xià le.
I'm really full, I can't eat any more.
你吃饱了吗？再来点？
Nǐ chī bǎo le ma? Zài lái diǎn?
Are you full? Want some more?
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