How to Say ‘Not at all.’ in Japanese
とんでもないです。
tondemo nai desu
[TOHN-deh-moh nai dess]
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is the polite way staff brush off your apology or thanks. It signals your request was no trouble, so there's no need to apologize again.
Phrase Breakdown
とんでも
tondemo
[TOHN-deh-moh]
outrageous; (part of) 'not at all'
Part of the set phrase とんでもない, used to politely deny thanks or praise: 'not at all, don't mention it'.
とんでもございません、こちらこそありがとうございます。
Not at all, thank you as well.
ない
nai
[nai]
not
Indicates negation or absence.
問題はない。
There is no problem.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
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