This post lists and explains all the possible ways you can say no problem in Japanese. It also teaches you when you should, and should not use each one!
We’ve all made mistakes, and we’ve all done favours for each other too.
Whether you’re searching for a way to reply to an apology, for a perfect response for when someone thanks you, or to say you’re welcome, there will surely be plenty of time where you’re going to want to say: no problem.
This singular phrase actually has quite a few variants in Japanese, and a lot of it depends on the situation and circumstances.
Let’s have a look at the phrases, and I’ll help you become familiar with how and when to use each one.
All of the phrases and expressions are explained in detail with examples and native audio pronunciation samples attached for your reference.
Table of Contents
No Problem in Japanese
Let’s jump straight to the most literal way to say no problem in Japanese. But first, you might want to learn about all the ways to say “no” in Japanese with our ultimate guide.
- No problem
問題ない
mondai nai
Being the most direct, and literal expression of no problem in Japanese, you can use 問題ない(mondai nai) when you simply want to say to someone: no problem.
The first part of the expression 問題 (mondai) means “problem”.
The second part ない (nai) means: “to not exist”. So essentially this expression directly translates to “problem does not exist.”
You can use this expression during occasions when someone asks you for a favour or if it’s okay for them to do something. For instance,
- 今日のパーティー、8時に行っていい?
kyou no pa-tei-, 8ji ni itte ii?
Can I go to today’s party at 8?
To which, you can respond:
- 問題ないよ。
mondai nai yo.
No problem.
In this example, the addition of よ (yo) makes the expression more friendly. You’re essentially saying “sure, it’s no problem.” It is very casual and should only be used when speaking with friends or family.
Formality: Note that as Japanese changes depending on the level of formality, this expression is in its casual form, therefore is best used when communicating with friends and relatives.
If you were speaking to a manager or someone who is of higher status, however, you can add the Japanese です (desu) to the end of the expression making it: 問題ないです (mondai nai desu).
If you’d like to learn more about how to read Japanese, you can visit our detailed page which explains how to read Japanese from the ground up.
Of Course, No Problem in Japanese
- Of course.
もちろん。
mochiron.
When someone thanks you for your help, or asks “Could you do this for me?” you might want to say もちろん (of course).
You can use this expression exactly as you would use it in English. Let’s say you stayed up all night helping a friend build their computer despite having to go to work the next morning. Your friend might say:
- 昨日ありがとう!
kinou arigatou!
Thanks for yesterday!
Your response:
- もちろん。
mochiron.
of course.
Related: 25+ Ways to say Thank You and Thanks in Japanese [Ultimate Guide].
You could also combine it with the above expression 問題ない (mondai nai) and say: もちろん問題ない (mochiron mondai nai) meaning: “Of course, it’s no problem!” This one is nice, as it’s fairly easy to understand, as its uses and nuances are the same as in English.
You can also use this expression when you want to say yes to someone’s request.
- 明日パソコンのことだけど、手伝ってもらっていい?
ashita pasokon no koto dakedo , tetsudatte moratteii?
About the computer tomorrow, would you mind helping me?
If you are all up for it, you can of course say:
- もちろん手伝うよ。
mochiron tetsudau yo.
Of course, I’ll help.
If you use it like this, you sound very willing to help and that it’s no problem at all.
Formality: When you’re speaking with people to who you should show a higher level of respect, managers, teachers, and strangers, you can just add です (desu), to the end. This makes it もちろんです (mochiron desu).
I Don’t Mind in Japanese
- I don’t mind/it doesn’t matter.
構わない
kamawanai.
You can use this expression in two ways to say no problem in Japanese. Firstly, you can use it as an answer to a request. If your friend were to ask if you could wait for them for instance, you could say 構わない (kamawanai) which would mean “sure, I don’t mind.”
- 図書館で待ってくれる?
toshokan de matte kureru?
Will you wait for me at the library?
You could reply:
- 構わない.
kamawa nai.
I don’t mind waiting.
During these situations, you can also say “no worries,” which is explained in the next entry.
Secondly, you can use 構わない (kamawanai) to say: “it doesn’t matter.” This can be in the context of meaning: “it’s no problem whichever or whatever the case.” For example, if your friend asks if you’d rather meet at the supermarket as opposed to the library you could also reply with 構わない (kamawanai), meaning: “it’s no problem whatever the case.”
Formality: In terms of formality, this expression is in its casual form. To add formality to it, you would say 構いません (kamaimasen).
No Worries in Japanese
Sometimes, “no worries” and “no problem” can be interchangeable, but the purpose of this section is to demonstrate how to say “No Problem” in Japanese with a warmer/friendly touch.
- No worries/it’s no problem at all.
全然いい(よ)。
zenzen ii yo.
This expression is powerful in conveying a friendly no problem in Japanese.
You can use it in a wide variety of circumstances. For example, you can use it in response to someone when they ask you for a favour, or even when someone apologies to you.
Furthermore, it has a very friendly connotation attached to it, making it a brilliant expression to use when someone thanks you.
いい (ii) has many meanings: “good, okay, no problem”.
In fact, you can just use いいよ (iiyo) by itself as it conveys the meaning of “no problem” in a friendly matter.
The よ (yo) makes this expression sound particularly friendly, as opposed to just いい (ii). You could say いい (ii) by itself, however, but it comes across as somewhat cold.
So, いいよ is a friendly and warm way of saying: “no problem” in Japanese. But what about 全然 (zenzen)?
Grammatically, 全然 (zenzen) is used at the start of a sentence with a negative ending to convey the meaning of “not at all”.
However, recently Japanese people have begun using 全然 (zenzen) to add emphasis to affirmative phrases. Although grammatically incorrect, it is widely understood and accepted by the Japanese that 全然 can be used like this.
Here, 全然 is used to express: “not at all,” and with いいよ coming after it, completes the expression 全然いいよ, literally – “no worries at all”.
Formality: When speaking to non-friends and relatives, be sure to add that extra layer of formality by adding です, making it 全然いいですよ. (zenzen ii desuyo).
It’s Okay in Japanese
- It’s okay (no problem)
全然大丈夫
zenzen daijoubu
You can use 大丈夫 (daijoubu), to express “No problem” in Japanese. This is a very flexible phrase that you can use in plenty of situations.
It would be best translated as: “that’s okay, no problem” in English. Similarly to the 全然いいよ phrase explained above, 大丈夫 (daijoubu) can also be paired with 全然 (zenzen).
Also, in this case, 全然 (zenzen) exaggerates and amplifies the meaning of 大丈夫 (daijoubu).
See as adding 全然 (zenzen) to the phrase as a way of saying: “It’s absolutely fine” or “It’s absolutely okay, no problem” in Japanese.
As a response to a request:
- 本当にパソコンを使っていい?
hontouni pasokon wo tsukatte ii?
Is it really okay to use your computer?
Your reply:
- ぜんぜん大丈夫
zenzen daijoubu
No problem at all.
As response to an apology:
- パソコンが壊れた!ごめんね!
pasokon ga kowareta! gomen ne!
The computer broke! I’m sorry!
Your reply:
- ぜんぜん大丈夫
zenzen daijoubu
No problem at all.
As a Thank you:
- 新しいパソコンを買ってくれてありがとう!
atarashii pasokon wo katte kurete arigatou!
Thank you for buying me a new computer!
Your reply:
- ぜんぜん大丈夫
zenzen daijoubu
No problem at all.
You can also use 大丈夫 on its own, and you will sound perfectly natural. When you do, you’re simply saying “It’s no problem.”
Formality: Just like the phrases before this one, adding です (desu) to the end of the phrase ups the level of formality.
This makes it 全然大丈夫です (zenzen daijoubu desu). Don’t forget to do this when speaking with a stranger, your manager, or your teacher!
How to say OK, Okay and It’s Okay in Japanese [Ultimate Guide].
Nevermind in Japanese
When we want to say “no problem” to someone, sometimes we want to say: “No problem, don’t worry about it.” In this section, I’m going to break down the phrases that convey just that meaning!
- Don’t worry about it (nevermind).
気にしないで。
kinishinaide.
When you use 気にしないで (kinishinaide) you’re essentially saying “Don’t worry about it, it’s no problem, nevermind.” You can use this phrase in situations where you want to tell someone not to worry.
For those of you who have studied Japanese before you might notice that this word has the grammar しないで (shinaide) attached to it. This grammar means “not do.”
The affirmative conjugation of this phrase is 気にする (kinisuru) which means “to mind.” With しないで (shinaide) attached to the word, we can see how the translation for this phrase is “nevermind.”
You can also use it as a response to an apology. Perhaps someone can’t hold back their cravings anymore and eats the chocolate that you’d been saving for a special occasion.
If you’re willing to forgive the person you would say: 気にしないで, conveying the meaning of “nevermind, don’t worry about it.”
Formality: You can add ください (kudasai) to the end of the phrase to increase the formality. ください (kudasai) is a formal way of saying “please” and is often paired with this word when an increase of formality is needed.
Don’t Worry About It in Japanese
- Don’t worry about it.
心配しないで。
shinpaishinaide.
This expression is the literal translation of “don’t worry about it.” 心配 (shinpai) means “to worry,” and ないで (naide) means: “without doing,” making the complete expression literally, “don’t worry.”
This phrase is very easy to use, as it has the same functions and uses as it does in English! It conveys the meaning of “it’s no problem, don’t worry about it.” You can use this phrase when you want to reassure someone that they don’t need to worry or overthink something and that everything is okay. When you combine it with 大丈夫 (daijoubu), above, you can say “It’s okay, don’t worry about it.”
- ケーキの全部をたべちゃった、ごめんなさい。
ke-ki no zenbu wo tabechatta, gomen na sai.
I accidentally ate all of the cake, I’m sorry.
Being the nice person you are, you say:
- 大丈夫!心配しないで。
daijoubu! shinpaishinaide.
No worries, don’t worry about it.
You can also use this expression to really try to calm someone down.
By saying:
- そんなに心配しなくていいよ。
sonna ni shinpai shinakute ii yo.
Don’t worry too much.
You’re telling that person that they needn’t worry too much in Japanese.
Formality: Similarly to the phrase above, add ください (kudasai) to the end of the phrase. By adding ください (kudasai) which means “please,” you add an additional layer of formality to the phrase.
You’re Welcome in Japanese
When we want to say “No Problem” in Japanese, sometimes, a “You’re welcome” will do the job perfectly. Let’s take a look at how you can say “you’re welcome” in Japanese.
- You’re Welcome.
どういたしまして。
douitashimashite.
The most simple way to say “You’re welcome” in Japanese is to use the phrase: どういたしまして (douitashimashite).
This is a very flexible phrase you can use wth anyone without concern for formality. It is the closest phrase to “You’re Welcome” in Japanese and can be used when you want to respond to a “thank you.
Formality: You don’t need to make any additional changes to this phrase as it is already formal. You can use this phrase to say “You’re welcome” to anyone without the worry of formality.
Modest ways to say You’re Welcome in Japanese
The Japanese language has multiple layers of formality, and it’s in the culture to be modest when saying “You’re Welcome” in Japanese. Let’s take a look at the phrases and ex[ressopms in more detail!
- No, no, it’s nothing! (no problem).
いえいえ。
ieie.
When you say a single いえ (ie) in Japanese, you’re saying “no.” This expression is いえ (ie) x2, so quite literally this expression can be translated as “No no.”
When you go to Japan and speak Japanese to someone, there’s no doubt you’ll be complimented on your (amazing) Japanese. Japanese people are very polite, and will often say things like 日本語上手ですね!
This translates to: “Wow! You’re Japanese is amazing!” People will often say this to you immediately after you’ve told them: “Hello.”
The best (and sometimes expected) way to reply to this is to be modest.
In Japanese culture, after being complimented it can be polite to say things like “No no, that’s not true at all!” And the same goes for after someone thanks you.
When someone thanks you in Japanese, it is polite to tell them: “no, no, it was no problem at all!” Which is the exact meaning that いえいえ (ieie) conveys.
Formality: いえいえ (ie ie) is perfectly fine in all situations as it’s already an expression you’ll use when you want to be modest.
Check out this video on “Wow” You’re Japanese is amazing.” It’s become a sort of meme in the Japanese language learning community.
Thank You Too In Japanese
- Thank you too!
こちらこそ!
kochirakoso!
When you want to say “Thank you too” in Japanese, こちらこそ (kochira koso) is the expression you’ll need.
This expression is quite on the modest side, and its literal translation would be more something like: “It is I who should be thanking you.”
You’ll want to use this expression after someone has thanked you to show that you’re also (perhaps even more so) appreciative of that person. It is a very polite expression that is used frequently among Japanese people.
- 今日はとても楽しかったです。ありがとうございます。
kyou ha totemo tanoshikatta desu. arigatou gozaimasu.
Today was really fun. Thank you.
Your response can be:
- こちらこそ
kochirakoso
Thank you too.
Formality: As this is a modest expression, you don’t need to change it in any way.
An alternative response that you can use is 私も (watashi mo), which essentially means “me too” in Japanese. Unlike こちらこそ (kochira koso) this is a very casual expression and should only be used with friends and family.
Recommended: How to say Thank You in Japanese [Ultimate Guide].
No problem using Japanese loan words
The Japanese language consists of borrowed words called katakana. There are ways to say “No Problem” in Japanese, using English (or English-sounding) phrases and expressions. Let’s take a look!
- Okay
オーケー
O-ke
This expression means the same as “OK” in English, and can be used the same way. Convenient, right!
Formality: You can use オーケー (o-ke) as a standalone expression, but adding です (desu) to the end secures that formality if in doubt.
- I don’t mind
ドンマイ
donmai
This phrase is borrowed from the English language phrase “I don’t mind.” Just as you’d expect, it means exactly that! You can ドンマイ (donmai) in Japanese the same way as you would use “I don’t mind” in English. You’re probably best off using this one with your friends, as opposed to with your manager or teacher.
Formality: You should use this casual phrase with your friends.
It’s no problem, no big deal In Japanese
- It’s no problem, no big deal
大したことはない
taishita koto wa nai
At times when someone is bigging up the fact you’ve done them a huge favour, you can use 大したことはない (taishita koto wa nai). When you use this expression you’re telling the person that “it was nothing, no biggie.” For instance:
- 家まで荷物を持ってくれてありがとう。
ie made nimotsu wo mottekurete arigatou.
Thanks for carrying my things all the way home for me.
As a reply, you can say:
- 大したことはない
taishita koto ha nai
no problem, no big deal.
You can also use this expression to say “it’s nothing special.” Maybe you’ve received many compliments for being really good at something. People talk about you to others and say things like “thanks to them we won the baseball championship!”
By replying with 大したことはない (taishita koto ha nai) you’re telling them “it’s no big deal, nothing special.” Be careful not to sound too cocky of course!
That covers pretty much all of the ways you can say No Problem in Japanese! I hope you found this useful, thanks for reading!
More Resources for learning Japanese? No Problem!
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