余計なお世話
yokē na osewa
The Japanese phrase for "mind your business" is 余計なお世話 (yokē na osewa).
余計なお世話 is used to tell someone to stop interfering in a situation that does not concern them.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 余計, which means unnecessary or superfluous. Literally, it translates to "unnecessary help."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Using 余計なお世話だ is an informal, blunt and assertive way to say "It's none of your business," which is often used during arguments. Adding です to create 余計なお世話です makes the phrase grammatically polite, but the underlying meaning is still dismissive and can be perceived as rude depending on the context.
How do you pronounce it?
yokē na osewa
Did you know?
- Depending on the tone, 余計なお世話 can be said between very close friends as a teasing way to tell someone they are being 'too helpful' or 'motherly'.
- Using this phrase is a way of rejecting the very concept of 'care' from the other person, which is a very heavy social rejection in Japan.
- If you use this phrase toward a superior, even with the polite です suffix, it is almost certain to cause a significant social rift.
Examples in context
- 余計なお世話だよ。Yokei na osewa da yo.Mind your business.
- それは余計なお世話です。Sore wa yokei na osewa desu.That is none of your business.
- 余計なお世話をしないでください。Yokei na osewa o shinaide kudasai.Please stop interfering in my business.
Example conversation
Kenta is giving unsolicited advice to Yui about her personal life.
- 健太 Kenta結衣、もっと貯金したほうがいいよ。Yui, motto chokin shita hou ga ii yo.Yui, you should save more money.
- 結衣 Yuiそれは余計なお世話だよ、健太。Sore wa yokei na osewa da yo, Kenta.Mind your business, Kenta.
- 健太 Kentaそんなに怒らなくてもいいじゃないか。Sonna ni okoranakute mo ii janai ka.You don't have to get so angry.
- 結衣 Yui放っておいて。Hootte oite.Just leave me alone.
