In a previous post, we discussed the many ways to say ‘thank you’ in Japanese. In this post, we will look at the different phrases you can opt for when you are on the receiving end of gratitude and want to express ‘you’re welcome’.
It is widely known that in Japanese culture, politeness is held in very high regard. Depending on who is thanking you, there are various ways in which you can reply to a ‘thank you’.
In a business setting, responding in too casual of a manner can come off as haughty or somewhat impolite. Whereas in a casual setting, responding too formally, although not as bad, doesn’t help in making your Japanese sound as natural as you would probably like.
In Japanese, it is a common practice to use humble speech, in order to show respect to the person you are speaking to. Therefore, when someone thanks you, it is more modest to say something along the lines of ‘it was nothing!’ or ‘don’t worry about it!’ Simply responding with ‘you’re welcome’, as that may be seen as giving yourself too much credit.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common ways to say ‘you’re welcome’, whether you are responding to family, friends or even higher ups!
JapanesePod101 is our top recommendation to learn Japanese online. We love the fun, current audio lessons and interactive online tools. Sign up for your free lifetime account and see for yourself!