Dictionary / Japanese / You're welcome
How to Say "You're welcome" in Japanese
どういたしまして
dō itashimashite
Literally: What have I done (to be thanked)?
Polite or casual
Casualいえいえ (ie ie)
どういたしまして is polite, but in daily life it is heard more in textbooks than in conversation. Most people wave thanks away with いえいえ (ie ie) or いいえ (iie). With a customer or someone senior, とんでもないです (tondemonai desu), not at all, is a polite choice. If you are grateful to them too, say こちらこそ (kochira koso), likewise.
Correct
どういたしまして
What people say wrong
ようこそ
Welcome, as in welcome to a place. It is not a reply to thank you.
The mistake to avoid. Learners often answer every thank you with どういたしまして, because it is the first reply textbooks teach. In everyday talk it can sound stiff and a little distant. Most people play the thanks down instead, with いえいえ and a small wave of the hand.
In context
いえいえ、気にしないで。
Ie ie, ki ni shinaide.
No, no, don't worry about it. (casual)
どういたしまして。またいつでもどうぞ。
Dō itashimashite. Mata itsu demo dōzo.
You're welcome. Any time.
いいえ、とんでもないです。
Iie, tondemonai desu.
Not at all. (polite)