What does it mean word for word?
Literally, tidak apa-apa means 'it is nothing'. It is composed of tidak (no/not), apa (what) and apa-apa (anything/matter).
Which one should you use?
While tidak apa-apa can be used to respond to a thank you, the phrase sama-sama is the more standard and direct way to say 'you're welcome'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are several ways to express this depending on the situation. Tidak ada masalah is a formal way to say 'there is no problem', and jangan khawatir is a formal way to say 'don't worry'. In informal, daily settings, you can use nggak apa-apa, which is the colloquial version of tidak apa-apa or the contraction gapapa (meaning 'no problem' or 'it's okay'). You may also use santai aja to mean 'just stay calm' or 'just chill'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase tidak apa-apa is grammatically static and does not change based on the subject or tense.
Did you know?
- The root of tidak shares an ancient ancestor with the word tsy in Malagasy, a language spoken on the island of Madagascar.
- Indonesians may use tidak apa-apa as a polite way to decline an offer while signaling that the refuser is not offended.
- The word apa-apa is formed through reduplication, a common Indonesian linguistic feature where words are doubled to change their meaning or scope.
Examples in context
- Gapapa, tidak masalah.No worries, it's not a problem.
- Tidak ada masalah, saya mengerti.No worries, I understand.
- Jangan khawatir, kami akan menyelesaikannya segera.No worries, we will resolve it soon.
- Tidak apa-apa, aku bisa menunggu.No worries, I can wait.
- Sudah, tidak apa-apa.It's okay, no worries.
- Tidak apa-apa, jangan merasa bersalah.No worries, don't feel guilty.
Example conversation
Adi accidentally spills a little water on Indah's table.
- AdiMaaf, Indah, saya tidak sengaja.Sorry, Indah, I didn't mean to.
- IndahTidak apa-apa, Adi. Cuma sedikit.No worries, Adi. It's just a little.
- AdiBiar saya lap pakai tisu ini.Let me wipe it with this tissue.
- IndahTerima kasih banyak.Thank you very much.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tidak apa-apa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries apa-apa, tidak, tidak apa-apa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
