Dictionary / Japanese / It's okay
How to Say "It's okay" in Japanese
大丈夫です
daijōbu desu
Literally: It is all right
大丈夫
all right, fine
です
is
Polite or casual
Polite大丈夫です
Casual大丈夫 (daijōbu)
大丈夫です is polite and works with anyone. With friends, 大丈夫 on its own is normal, and 大丈夫だよ (daijōbu da yo) sounds reassuring. As a question, 大丈夫ですか (daijōbu desu ka) asks whether someone is all right, or whether something is okay for them.
The mistake to avoid. When a shop assistant asks 袋はご利用ですか (would you like a bag?), answering 大丈夫です means "no thanks, I'm fine". Learners often say it meaning "yes, that's fine" and leave without a bag. To accept, say お願いします (onegai shimasu). The same goes for offers of more food or help: 大丈夫です usually turns them down.
In context
大丈夫ですか。はい、大丈夫です。
Daijōbu desu ka. Hai, daijōbu desu.
Are you all right? Yes, I'm fine.
袋はご利用ですか。大丈夫です。
Fukuro wa goriyō desu ka. Daijōbu desu.
Would you like a bag? No, I'm fine, thanks.
心配しないで、大丈夫だよ。
Shinpai shinaide, daijōbu da yo.
Don't worry, it's okay. (casual)