You shouldn't have!
Informal Polite
What it really means
The standard delighted response to a gift. It literally scolds the giver for spending money, but it really means "thank you, this is wonderful". No one wants the gift returned.
Chinese explanation
收到礼物时的标准惊喜反应。字面像在责备对方破费，实际意思是"太感谢了，我很喜欢"。绝不是要退还礼物。
Example conversation
A: We got you a little leaving present.
B: Oh, you shouldn't have! That's so kind.
A：我们给你准备了一份小小的离别礼物。
B：哎呀，太破费了！你们真是太好了。
What you could say back
No spoken reply needed for this one.
Related phrases
All Politeness Decoder
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake