What does it mean word for word?
The core of the phrase, 大丈夫, literally means "no problem" or "all right".
Which one should you use?
While 大丈夫です is a standard way to say everything is fine, you can also use 問題ありません to say "there is no problem" or 心配ありません to literally say "there is no worry". In informal settings, 大丈夫だよ is used to add a friendly and reassuring tone, while 大丈夫だから is used to emphasize that everything is okay.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
大丈夫です is a polite and standard way to express that things are fine. For more formal situations, you can use 問題ありません or 心配ありません. In informal situations, you might use 大丈夫だよ, 大丈夫だから or the past tense 大丈夫だったよ.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai dialect, speakers often use 大丈夫やで to mean "everything is OK".
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the statement informal, you can replace the polite desu with the plain form da to get 大丈夫だ. To turn the statement into a question such as "is everything okay?", add ですか to the end to form 大丈夫ですか.
How do you pronounce it?
daijōbu desu
Did you know?
- The word 大丈夫 (daijōbu) originally referred to a 'great man' or a person of significant strength and capability in classical Japanese. Over time, the meaning shifted from describing a person's character to describing a state of being 'all right' or 'safe'.
- When someone asks 大丈夫ですか, the response 大丈夫です can be an 'agreeable' response even if the person is actually struggling. This reflects the cultural value of 'gaman', or enduring hardship with patience and dignity.
- When using 大丈夫 to decline an offer, there is a risk of sounding dismissive if your tone is too short. Adding a small gesture, like a slight wave of the hand in front of the chest, helps clarify that you are declining a service rather than saying the service itself is 'okay'.
Examples in context
- 先生、大丈夫ですか？Teacher, are you okay?
- はい、大丈夫です。Yes, everything is OK.
- 今日の試合、大丈夫だよね？Is today's game going to be fine?
- 大丈夫だから、心配しないで。Don't worry, everything is OK.
- 準備はもう大丈夫です。Junbi wa mou daijoubu desu.The preparations are already okay.
- あ、大丈夫です。気にしないでください。A, daijoubu desu. Ki ni shinaide kudasai.Oh, everything is okay. Please don't worry about it.
- 今のところ、すべて大丈夫です。Ima no tokoro, subete daijoubu desu.Everything is okay for now.
Example conversation
Ren is helping Misaki with her heavy luggage at the station.
- 蓮 Ren重そうですね。手伝いましょうか？Omosou desu ne. Tetsudaimashou ka?That looks heavy. Shall I help you?
- 美咲 Misakiありがとうございます。でも、大丈夫です。Arigatou gozaimasu. Demo, daijoubu desu.Thank you, but everything is okay.
- 蓮 Ren本当に大丈夫ですか？Hontou ni daijoubu desu ka?Are you really okay?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、一人で持てます。Hai, hitori de motemasu.Yes, I can carry it by myself.
