Bless you
BLESS-yoo /ˈbles juː/
Informal Polite
What it really means
What people say when someone sneezes — short for "God bless you", but completely non-religious today. It's a tiny politeness, like saying nothing would be slightly cold. The sneezer usually replies "Thank you". If a stranger says it to you, just smile and thank them.
Chinese explanation
别人打喷嚏时说的话——原是"God bless you"（上帝保佑你）的缩略，如今完全没有宗教含义。这是一种小小的礼貌，什么都不说会显得有点冷淡。打喷嚏的人一般回"Thank you"。陌生人对你说这句时，微笑道谢即可。
Example conversation
A: Achoo!
B: Bless you!
A: Thanks. Hay fever season again.
A：阿嚏！
B：保重（bless you）！
A：谢谢。又到花粉症的季节了。
Go deeper
All Customs & Etiquette
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake