Different ways to say "you're welcome" in Japanese

We know there are several ways to say thank you in Japanese, like arigatou [ありがとう]. But have you thought about how to respond to a thank you in Japanese? In this article, we will walk through different ways to say "you're welcome" in Japanese.

When someone says arigatou [ありがとう], the most common, polite, and formal response is douitashimashite [どう致しまして] — the closest English equivalent being "don't mention it" or simply "my pleasure." But Japanese has plenty of other ways to answer back, and the right one depends a lot on the situation and the person you are talking to.

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Origin of the Word Douitashimashite

The word douitashimashite literally means something like "I really didn't do anything in any particular way, so please don't worry about it." The origin of the word breaks down into two parts:

• dou [どう] comes from the expression donoyouni [どの様に], which means "in what way" — and is here used in the looser sense of "anyway" or "in any case";
• itashimashite [いたしまして] comes from the verb itasu [致す], the keigo (敬語, honorific language) and polite form of suru [する], which means "to do";

As a result, douitashimashite also carries the feeling of "anytime," "of course," "don't worry," "no problem," "it was nothing," "it was a pleasure," and "I'm happy to help." In some everyday situations, you can drop the dou and just say itashimashite [いたしまして] on its own — a slightly softer, more casual version of the same idea.

For more on the cultural side of Japanese politeness, take a look at our piece on whether people in Japan are truly polite or just putting on a show, and our guide to the occasions on which you should bow in Japan.

Other Ways to Say "You're Welcome" in Japanese

Although douitashimashite is the most formal and polite way to say "you're welcome" in Japanese, there are several other informal or casual expressions you can use with friends and even acquaintances. Here is a small list to get you started:

Meaning in English	Japanese	Romaji
Thank you (formal, often said back to a colleague)	こちらこそ	kochirakoso
No, no / no problem, it's fine (informal, with colleagues)	いえいえ	ie ie
Nothing, just ask me anytime	ううん、いつでも声かけて	uun, itsudemo koe kakete
Don't be so formal with me	遠慮しないで	enryoshinaide
I'm happy I could help (among friends)	助けになれて 良かった	tasukeni narete yokatta
It is my duty (when answering a boss or client)	恐縮です	kyoushukudesu
No problem, don't worry	大丈夫	daijoubu
Not at all, no problem at all	全然	zenzen
It was nothing [special] (informal, can come across as rude)	別に	betsuni
It was nothing (among friends, can also sound rude)	いいよ	iiyo

Here is a short video that walks through several of these different ways to say "you're welcome" in Japanese:

Different ways to say 'you're welcome' in Japanese

In Casual Situations

Among close friends, you can simply say hai (はーい) or un (うん) in response to a thank you. Sometimes you can even crack a joke, like kore takaiyo (これ高いよ) — which literally means "this is expensive!" and is a playful way of saying "you owe me one."

It pays to read the situation before answering: depending on who you are talking to and what the context is, the wrong expression can come across as cold or even rude. You can also combine expressions — for example, iie, kochirakoso ("no, I should be thanking you") — to soften or adjust the tone.

You can also answer a thank you with another thank you, like arigatou — this often happens in shops, where both the customer and the clerk end up thanking each other. And sometimes you do not need to say anything at all: a small bow, a smile, and you are on your way.

Above all, do not forget the smile — it makes every one of these replies sound warmer. Of the options above, which one do you find yourself reaching for most often? And if you have spent any time in Japan, did you catch one of these answers flying around in a real conversation?