How to Say ‘No problem / You’re welcome.’ in Japanese
いいえ、どういたしまして。
iie dou itashi mashi te
[ee-eh doh ee-tah-shee mah-shee teh]
💬 Usage Tip: Classic polite combo: “Not at all, you’re welcome.” Sounds a bit textbook but still correct.
🇯🇵 In Japan: If a local says just [いえいえ], it’s the same friendly meaning: “No worries!”
Phrase Breakdown
いいえ
iie
[ee-eh]
not at all / no (as “you’re welcome”)
Used after someone thanks you, meaning “Not at all.” It can be paired with どういたしまして for an extra polite “You’re welcome.”
ありがとうございます。いいえ、どういたしまして。
Thank you. Not at all, you’re welcome.
どういたしまして
dou itashi mashi te
You’re welcome.
Fixed polite phrase said in response to “thank you.”
どういたしまして。お気をつけて。
You’re welcome. Take care.
Words in this phrase
どう
dou
[doh]
you’re welcome (fixed phrase component)
どう here is part of the fixed reply どういたしまして (“You’re welcome”), commonly used after helping with directions.
駅はまっすぐです。ありがとうございます。いいえ、どういたしまして。
The station is straight ahead. Thank you. Not at all, you’re welcome.
いたし
itashi
[ee-tah-shee]
(humble) do (as part of fixed phrase)
Part of どういたしまして. It’s not normally separated; the whole phrase functions as “You’re welcome.”
道を聞いてくれてありがとう。いいえ、どういたしまして。
Thanks for asking (for directions). Not at all, you’re welcome.
まし
mashi
[mah-shee]
(polite stem in fixed phrase)
Appears inside どういたしまして. Think of it as part of the polite set response rather than a standalone meaning.
ありがとうございます。いいえ、どういたしまして。
Thank you. Not at all, you’re welcome.
て
te
[teh]
(connective) in fixed phrase
Completes the set phrase どういたしまして (“You’re welcome”). In conversation, use the full phrase smoothly.
助かりました。いいえ、どういたしまして。
That helped a lot. Not at all, you’re welcome.
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