余計なお世話
yokei na osewa
The Japanese phrase for "mind your own business" is 余計なお世話 (yokei na osewa).
The phrase 余計なお世話 is used to tell someone that their interference or advice is unwanted. It is a way to respond when someone is offering unsolicited advice or interfering in matters that do not concern them.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means "unnecessary help" or "unnecessary kindness".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You can use 余計なお世話です to make the expression more polite. However, the sentiment remains dismissive and can still be perceived as rude depending on the context. For a more informal way to say "You're being nosy," you can use おせっかいだよ.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase a complete sentence, you can add the copula だ to the end, as in 余計なお世話だ, which translates to "It is unnecessary help" or "That is none of your business."
How do you pronounce it?
yokei na osewa
Did you know?
- In Japanese, 'business' is often translated as 仕事 (shigoto), but when telling someone to 'mind their own business', you would never use that word. Instead, the phrase focuses on the 'help' or 'care' being offered.
- While 余計なお世話 is dismissive, Japanese culture often uses the concept of kuuki wo yomu or 'reading the air' to avoid the need for such a phrase by signaling discomfort non-verbally.
- The character 余 in 余計 originally referred to 'surplus' or 'remainder', linking the idea of being nosy to having 'too much' energy or concern to spend.
Examples in context
- そんなことは余計なお世話だ。Mind your own business.This sentence demonstrates the use of 余計なお世話 to say "Mind your own business."Tatoeba #204409 by small_snow, translation #29909 by CK
- 余計なお世話するな！Mind your own business!This sentence shows how to use 余計なお世話 with an imperative to say "Mind your own business!"Tatoeba #1019459 by nxvjjang, translation #16996 by CK
- それは余計なお世話だよ。Sore wa yokei na osewa da yo.That is none of your business.
Example conversation
Misaki is choosing a dress and Kenta gives unwanted advice.
- 健太 Kentaその色は美咲に似合わないと思うよ。Sono iro wa Misaki ni niawanai to omou yo.I don't think that color suits you, Misaki.
- 美咲 Misaki余計なお世話！私が決めたいの。Yokei na osewa! Watashi ga kimetai no.Mind your own business! I want to decide.
- 健太 Kentaただ親切で言っただけなのに。Tada shinsetsu de itta dake nanoni.I was just trying to be kind.
- 美咲 Misakiもういいから黙ってて。Mō ii kara damattete.That's enough, just be quiet.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
