20 phrases : How to say you’re welcome in Japanese ?

Mamechishiki Blog

As there are plenty ways of saying “thank you”, there are at least as much if not more ways to say “you’re welcome” in Japanese.

This article gathers 20 handy ways of saying “you’re welcome” in Japanese and provides the kanji, hiragana and romaji readings for each expression.

Louis
Louis

Could you use them all ? 😀

The most used ways to say “you’re welcome” in Japanese

  • Kanji
    どう致しまして
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    どういたしまして
  • Romaji
    dou itahimashite
  • Details
    The most used. When someone tell you “thank you” you can simply reply him or her “どういたしまして”.
  • Kanji
    どうも
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    どうも
  • Romaji
    doumo
  • Meaning
    Used with family, friends, people you have some connection with. You could also use this one to the waiter of the cafe you often go for example.
  • Kanji
    こちらこそありがとうございます。
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    こちらこそありがとうございます。
  • Romaji
    kochira koso arigatou gozaimasu
  • Meaning
    When someone tell you “ありがとうございます” you could say back “こちらこそありがとうございます”. こちらこそ means literally “me too” or “for me too”. It could be translated as “it was a pleasure fore me too, you’re welcome”.
  • Kanji
    こちらこそ
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    こちらこそ
  • Romaji
    kochirakoso
  • Meaning
    It is the short version of “こちらこそありがとうございます”. Can be used with friends or family, people you have a strong connection with.
  • Kanji
    いえいえ
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    いえいえ
  • Romaji
    ie ie
  • Meaning
    “いえいえ” means literally “no, no !” or “no, no it’s me”. Although it is used in a familiar context, it expresses a form of humility.

15 other ways to say “you’re welcome” in Japanese

  • Kanji
    とんでもございません
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    とんでもございません
  • Romaji
    tondemo gozaimasen
  • Meaning
    Used only towards clients. It is the polite synonym of “いえいえ”.
  • Kanji
    とんでもないです
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    とんでもないです
  • Romaji
    tondemo nai desu
  • Meaning
    Used towards repeating clients or in business relationships.
  • Kanji
    とんでもない
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    とんでもない
  • Romaji
    tondemonai
  • Meaning
    It is the short version of とんでもないです but can be used in a workplace towards colleagues. It is a polite way to say “you’re welcome”.
  • Kanji
    お役に立ててよかったです
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    おやくにたててよかったです
  • Romaji
    oyaku ni tatete yokatta desu
  • Meaning
    Used when you delivered a service to a client or to someone you have a business relationship with. If this delivered service was useful to the client, he or she may thank you for this. In this specific context you shall use お役に立ててよかったです in order to express the feeling of gratitude towards the client and that you are happy you were able to help him or her.
  • Kanji
    ご遠慮なく
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    ごえんりょなく
  • Romaji
    goenryo naku
  • Meaning
    ご遠慮なく is used towards a customer and means “please feel free to make yourself at ease any time”.
  • Kanji
    いつでも声かけてください
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    いつでもこえかけてください
  • Romaji
    itsudemo koe kakete kudasai
  • Meaning
    This polite form of saying “you’re welcome” is actually also a way to say “please feel free to ask us anything at anytime”. Can be useful if you want your guest to feel at ease or if you want them to come back to your shop for example.
  • Kanji
    いいえ
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    いいえ
  • Romaji
    iie
  • Meaning
    いいえ is used in this context not as a “No” but as a polite way to say “Anytime” to friends or family for example.
  • Kanji
    そんな
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    そんな
  • Romaji
    sonna
  • Meaning
    Used only with friends and family/relatives. It literally means “Not at all” but cannot be used in a professional context otherwise it would be misleading.
  • Kanji
    あ、大丈夫です
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    あ、だいじょうぶです
  • Romaji
    a, daijoubu desu
  • Meaning
    Can be used with local shop keeper, friends, family or your close circle of relatives. It means “No, it is alright”.
  • Kanji
    いいえ、気にしないでください!
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    いいえ、きにしないでください!
  • Romaji
    iie, ki ni shinaide kudasai !
  • Meaning
    Meaning “No, please do not mind !”. It is a polite way to reply back to someone that asked you insistent questions.
  • Kanji
    いいえ、気にしないで
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    いいえ、きにしないで
  • Romaji
    iie, ki ni shinaide
  • Meaning
    It is the short version of “気にしないでください”. It can be used for expressing the same message as the above “you’re welcome” but towards friends and relatives only.
  • Kanji
    恐縮です。
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    きょうしゅくです。
  • Romaji
    kyoushuku desu
  • Meaning
    Meaning literally “I am obliged (to you, to this company)”. It is a very polite and formal way to say “you’re welcome” towards business persons that have a higher status than yours.
  • Kanji
    今後もよろしくお願いします。
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    こんごもよろしくおねがいします。
  • Romaji
    kongo mo yoroshiku onegai shimasu
  • Meaning
    Close to “you’re welcome”, this expression would rather mean “we are awaiting for you next time as well”. If you are a shop keeper or a waiter, this sentence can be very handy for speaking with your customers.
  • Kanji
    いいよ!
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    いいよ!
  • Romaji
    iiyo !
  • Meaning
    This familar way of saying “you’re welcome” can only be used with very close friends or close family. It literally means “No, no!”
  • Kanji
    お気になさらず
  • Hiragana/Katakana
    おきになさらず
  • Romaji
    oki ni nasarazu
  • Meaning
    This is a very formal and polite way to say “you’re welcome”. It however implies another nuance of “please do not mind” or “please feel free to ask us anything”.
Louis
Louis

If you are not sure how to use a specific form, please feel free to share your questions in the comment part of this article and we will be happy to help you ! 🙂

A little music for relaxing ..

Dwayne Johnson – You're Welcome (From "Moana")

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