大丈夫です
daijōbu desu
It is okay in Japanese is 大丈夫です (daijōbu desu), the polite way to say that something is fine or there is no problem.
Use 大丈夫です to reassure someone that things are fine. In shops and restaurants it is also used to politely decline an offer, like a bag or more water, meaning no thank you, I am fine.
Which one should you use?
Daijoubu desu yo adds emphasis while staying polite. Kekko desu also means it is fine and is often used to decline offers. Iin ja nai? is a colloquial way to say is it not okay.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
大丈夫 alone is casual and used with friends or family. Adding desu makes it polite for strangers, colleagues and superiors.
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite negative is 大丈夫じゃありません, it is not okay. With friends, add ka to ask Daijoubu ka?, is it okay.
How do you pronounce it?
It is read daijōbu desu. The o is long and the final u is barely heard.
Did you know?
- While 大丈夫 (daijōbu) is used for 'okay' today, the characters literally mean 'big peace' or 'great stability', referring to a state of being completely secure.
- In Japanese culture, 大丈夫です (daijōbu desu) is often used as a 'soft no'. People prefer this ambiguous phrase over a direct いいえ (iie) to avoid sounding too blunt or confrontational.
- If you use 大丈夫です to decline a shopping bag, you might inadvertently sound like you are describing your physical health. In certain contexts, the phrase can mean 'I am physically well' or 'I am not injured', rather than 'I do not need the bag'.
Examples in context
- 大丈夫です。daijoubu desu.It is okay.
- 明日の予定は大丈夫です。ashita no yotei wa daijoubu desu.Tomorrow's schedule is fine.
- この使い方は大丈夫です。kono tsukaikata wa daijoubu desu.This way of using it is okay.
Example conversation
Misaki asks Ren if his coffee is alright.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮さんのコーヒーは大丈夫ですか？ren-san no koohii wa daijoubu desu ka?Is your coffee okay, Ren?
- 蓮 Renはい、大丈夫です。hai, daijoubu desu.Yes, it is fine.
- 美咲 Misaki甘すぎませんか？amasugimasen ka?Is it too sweet?
- 蓮 Renいいえ、とても美味しいです。iie, totemo oishii desu.No, it is very delicious.
