How to Say “I am full, thanks” in Chinese
Food and dining · HSK 2
"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?