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
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
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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