The textbook way to say you're welcome in Japanese is どういたしまして (dō itashimashite), but in everyday speech people more often brush thanks aside with いえいえ (ie ie), "not at all". At work, とんでもないです (tondemonai desu) is common. For "welcome" as in greeting a guest, the word is different: ようこそ (yōkoso).
- Textbook
- どういたしまして (dō itashimashite)
- Everyday
- いえいえ (ie ie)
- At work
- とんでもないです (tondemonai desu)
- Welcoming a guest
- ようこそ (yōkoso)
- Level
- A1
Is dō itashimashite actually used in Japanese?
Yes, and it is never wrong. But because it openly accepts the thanks, it can sound a touch formal in casual moments, so people often play down the favour instead. Modesty, not acceptance, is the usual instinct.
| Japanese | Romaji | Register | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| いえいえ | ie ie | Friendly, polite | "Oh, not at all" |
| どういたしまして | dō itashimashite | Polite | The textbook "you're welcome" |
| とんでもないです | tondemonai desu | Polite, modest | "Not at all, it was nothing"; common at work |
| お役に立ててよかったです | oyaku ni tatete yokatta desu | Polite | "I'm glad I could help" |
| 気にしないで | ki ni shinaide | Casual | "Don't worry about it" |
| いいよ、いいよ | ii yo, ii yo | Casual | "It's fine, it's fine" |
For the thank-you side of the exchange, and replies such as こちらこそ, see how to say thank you in Japanese.
How do you say you're welcome at work or to a customer?
When a client or senior colleague thanks you, the polite move is to wave the thanks away rather than accept it. とんでもないです does exactly that. If you genuinely helped with something, お役に立ててよかったです is warm without boasting.
いえ、とんでもないです。
Ie, tondemonai desu.
Oh no, not at all.
To a client or someone senior.
お役に立ててよかったです。
Oyaku ni tatete yokatta desu.
I'm glad I could help.
こちらこそ、ありがとうございました。
Kochira koso, arigatō gozaimashita.
Thank you, too.
At the end of a meeting, when both sides gained something.
How do friends say you're welcome in Japanese?
Among friends, replies are short and shrug the thanks off. A smile and a quick phrase is plenty.
いいよ、いいよ。
Ii yo, ii yo.
It's fine, it's fine.
Casual and warm.
全然！
Zenzen!
Not at all!
Very casual. 全然 normally pairs with a negative, but on its own it is a common quick reply.
気にしないで。
Ki ni shinaide.
Don't mention it.
いつでも言ってね。
Itsudemo itte ne.
Just ask any time.
How do you say 'welcome' to a guest in Japanese?
English uses "welcome" for two separate jobs. Replying to thanks is covered above; greeting someone who arrives takes different words entirely.
| Japanese | Romaji | Situation |
|---|---|---|
| ようこそ | yōkoso | Welcoming visitors; common on signs, as in ようこそ日本へ ("Welcome to Japan") |
| いらっしゃいませ | irasshaimase | Staff greeting customers entering a shop or restaurant |
| いらっしゃい | irasshai | Casual: a host welcoming friends to their home |
| おかえりなさい | okaeri nasai | "Welcome back" to someone returning home |
Open a free Japanese story at A1 and tap any word, from どうぞ to ようこそ, for its meaning.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you pronounce dō itashimashite?
Roughly "doh ee-tah-shee-mash-teh". The ō is long, and the i in the shi before te is usually whispered, so the end sounds close to "mash-teh".
Does dōzo mean you're welcome?
No. どうぞ (dōzo) means "please, go ahead" or "here you are": you say it when offering something or letting someone go first. It is not a reply to thanks.
What is the difference between iie and ie ie?
いいえ is "no", used here to mean "it was nothing". いえいえ is a softer, friendlier doubled version and a very common quick reply to thanks in polite conversation.
How do you say you're welcome formally in Japanese?
Use とんでもないです (tondemonai desu) or お役に立ててよかったです (oyaku ni tatete yokatta desu). Both stay modest, which matters more in formal Japanese than accepting the thanks.