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In a country like Japan, where good manners are paramount, knowing how to respond to expressions of gratitude in Japanese is essential.
Fortunately, saying “you’re welcome” in Japanese is considerably simpler than all the ways to say “thank you” in Japanese, and these seven expressions will prepare you for smooth, polite conversations.
How do I say ‘You’re welcome’ in Japanese?
Grammatically speaking, many of the ways to say “you’re welcome” in Japanese language conversation appear negative. This is similar to all of the different expressions English has to brush off the actions someone is being thanked for as “no big deal” or “no problem,” so don’t worry about sounding rude when you use them!
Dō itashimashite (You’re welcome)
The textbook definition of “you’re welcome” is dō itashimashite (どう致しまして), pronounced “doh ee-tah-shee-mahsh-teh.” You may have heard this expression because a comical way to reach an approximate Japanese pronunciation of the expression is to say “don’t touch my mustache” very fast. In everyday life, you probably won’t use this expression often, as it can feel stiff. Save it for more formal situations!
- Arigatō gozaimasu.（ありがとうございます。）= Thank you very much.
- Dō itashimashite.（どう致しまして。）= You’re welcome.
Iie (Not at all)
Although iie (いいえ) is the standard way to say “no” in Japanese, it’s also a common way to respond to a thank you. Typically, you’ll pair it with another expression for “you’re welcome” or “no problem.”
- Arigatō gozaimasu.（ありがとうございます。）= Thank you very much.
- Iie, tondemo nai desu.（いいえ、とんでもないです。）= Not at all, don’t mention it.
Daijōbu (It’s okay)
The expression daijōbu is often used as a consolation to assure someone that you’re okay, or that the situation is okay. You might use it in response to thanks if the person thanking you is concerned that you’ve gone out of your way to do something.
- Tasukatta! Arigatō.（助かった！ありがとう。）= You saved me! Thank you.
- Daijōbu yo. Kimi wa daijōbu?（大丈夫よ。君は大丈夫？）= It’s okay! Are you okay?
Mondai nai (No problem)
For a quick “No problem!” you can use mondai nai (問題ない), which is a conveniently direct translation. You could also use mondai arimasen (問題ありません) to sound a little more formal.
- Kyōkasho o kashite kurete arigatō.（教科書を貸してくれてありがとう。）= Thanks for lending me the textbook.
- Mondai nai yo.（問題ないよ。）= No problem!
Ki ni shinaide (No worries)
Ki ni shinaide (気にしないで) is useful when you want to infuse your words with a little humility while assuring the person thanking you that they didn’t cause you any trouble. Think of it like a mix of mondai nai and daijōbu. If you want to be a little extra polite, you can add kudasai (ください) to the end, which is one way to say “please” in Japanese.
- Kiite kurete arigatou.（聞いてくれてありがとう。）= Thanks for listening to me.
- Ki ni shinaide.（気にしないで。）= No worries.
Taishita koto ja nai (No big deal)
Taishita koto ja nai (大したことじゃない) is an expression where the translation and formality are flexible. This largely stems from the conjugation of ja nai, the negative form of “to be” in Japanese. In increasing order of politeness, you can use these variations to communicate roughly the same sentiment:
- Taishita koto ja nai.（大したことじゃない。）= No big deal.
- Taishita koto de wa nai.（大したことではない。）= No matter.
- Taishita koto ja arimasen.（大したことじゃありません。）= It’s not a big deal.
Tondemo arimasen (Don’t mention it)
A bit of a mixed expression, tondemo arimasen not only varies in formal vs. informal Japanese based on the conjugation of arimasen, but it can also mean everything from Japanese slang like “heck no!” to “unheard of!” to “don’t mention it!” How it comes across is largely based on context, but think of it as a particularly emphatic way to assure someone their thanks isn’t strictly necessary.
- Dō yatte kansha shitara ii no deshō ka.（どうやって感謝したらいいのでしょうか。）= How can I thank you?
- Tondemo arimasen.（とんでもありません。）= Don’t mention it.
Practice good manners with Rosetta Stone
The best way to practice greetings like “thank you” and “you’re welcome” in Japanese is to use them yourself! With Rosetta Stone Tutoring, you can work with a Japanese language expert who will practice conversation with you, offer pointers on pronunciation, and help you achieve your Japanese language goals.
