How to Say You're Welcome in Japanese
Learn how to say you're welcome in Japanese: どういたしまして (dou itashimashite) is standard. Casual いえいえ, pronunciation, formal vs informal replies and culture notes.
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Quick answer
To say 'you're welcome' in Japanese, say どういたしまして (dou itashimashite, doh ee-tah-shee-mahsh-teh). It's the textbook reply to 'thank you', but in everyday life Japanese people more often answer with a modest いえいえ (ie ie, 'no no') or とんでもないです (tondemonai desu, 'not at all'). Casually you can just say うん (un) with a nod.
どういたしまして
/doh ee-tah-shee-mahsh-teh/ — Japanese
How to Say You’re Welcome in Japanese
Replying to “thank you” in Japanese is surprisingly nuanced. The phrase every textbook teaches — どういたしまして — is correct, but in daily life Japanese speakers lean toward humble deflection rather than a confident “you’re welcome”.
The Standard Phrase
どういたしまして — pronounced doh ee-tah-shee-mahsh-teh (polite)
This is the safe, universally understood reply to ありがとう (arigatou, “thank you”). It’s never wrong, though it can feel slightly formal or even old-fashioned between close friends.
Copy the Phrase
The Japanese for “you’re welcome” is どういたしまして (dou itashimashite, doh ee-tah-shee-mahsh-teh).
Formal vs. Casual Replies
| Japanese | Romaji | Pronunciation | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| どういたしまして | dou itashimashite | doh ee-tah-shee-mahsh-teh | Standard, polite |
| とんでもないです | tondemonai desu | tohn-deh-moh-nai dess | Humble “not at all” (formal) |
| いえいえ | ie ie | ee-eh ee-eh | Modest “no no” (everyday) |
| こちらこそ | kochira koso | koh-chee-rah koh-soh | ”No, thank YOU” |
| いいよ | ii yo | ee yoh | Casual “no problem” |
| 全然 | zenzen | zen-zen | ”Not at all” (casual) |
The Culture of Humble Deflection
The literal sense of どういたしまして is closer to “what did I do? (nothing)” — you’re playing down your own contribution. This reflects a deep current in Japanese communication: rather than accepting praise or thanks head-on, you modestly brush it aside. That’s why いえいえ (“no no”) and とんでもないです (“not at all”) often feel more natural than a direct “you’re welcome” — they emphasise that helping was no trouble.
”Kochira Koso” — Turning Thanks Around
A lovely, very Japanese reply is こちらこそ (kochira koso) — literally “it is I (on this side) who should…”, meaning “no, thank you”. You use it when the gratitude really runs both ways — after a deal, a shared meal, or a favour exchanged. It signals warmth and mutual respect.
Pronunciation Tips
- どう (dou) — a long “doh”, hold the vowel.
- まして (mashite) — the “i” devoices, so it sounds like “mahsh-teh”.
- とんでもない (tondemonai) — say it briskly; the polite version adds です (dess) or, more formally, ございません (gozaimasen).
A Cultural Note
In casual everyday exchanges, Japanese people often respond to a quick “thanks” with nothing more than a smile, a nod, or a soft いえいえ — どういたしまして can feel a touch heavy for small favours. Save the full phrase for when someone thanks you sincerely. And when in doubt in a formal setting, the modest とんでもないです will always read as gracious and well-mannered.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say you're welcome in Japanese?
The standard phrase is どういたしまして (dou itashimashite, doh ee-tah-shee-mahsh-teh). It's polite and always correct, though natives often prefer humbler responses like いえいえ (ie ie) or とんでもないです (tondemonai desu) in real conversation.
How do you pronounce dou itashimashite?
どういたしまして is pronounced doh ee-tah-shee-mahsh-teh. The どう is a long 'doh', and the まして devoices to 'mahsh-teh' (the 'i' nearly disappears). Say it smoothly as one flowing phrase: doh-i-ta-shi-mashi-te.
What does dou itashimashite literally mean?
It comes from an old humble expression roughly meaning 'what have I done? (nothing worth mentioning)' — i.e. deflecting the thanks. So どういたしまして isn't a literal 'you are welcome' but a modest 'it was nothing'. This humility is central to how Japanese responds to gratitude.
What is a casual way to say you're welcome in Japanese?
Among friends, どういたしまして can sound a little stiff. Casual replies include いえいえ (ie ie, 'no no'), いいよ (ii yo, 'no problem / sure'), 全然 (zenzen, 'not at all'), and こちらこそ (kochira koso, 'no, thank YOU'). A simple nod with うん (un) also works between close friends.
How do you politely say you're welcome at work in Japanese?
In formal or business settings, modest deflection is preferred: とんでもないです (tondemonai desu) or とんでもございません (tondemo gozaimasen) — 'not at all, please don't mention it'. お役に立てて嬉しいです (o-yaku ni tatete ureshii desu) — 'I'm glad I could help' — is also gracious and professional.