Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 천만에요 | cheonman-eyo | [t͡ɕʰʌ̹nma̠ne̞jo] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 아니에요 | anieyo | |
| 별말씀을요 | byeolmalsseum-eur-yo | |
| 천만의 말씀입니다 | cheonman-ui malsseum-imnida | |
| 별것 아니었습니다 | byeolgeot anieotseumnida | |
| 별거 아니에요 | byeolgeo anieyo | |
| 괜찮아요 | gwaenchanayo | |
| 고맙긴요 | gomapgin-yo | |
| 뭘요 | mwor-yo |
The various forms of "you're welcome" in Korean range from polite responses to dismissing the thanks entirely. 천만에요 literally translates to "not at all" or "don't mention it." The form 아니에요 is used to mean "it's nothing" or "not at all." 괜찮아요 can be used to mean "you're welcome" in the sense of "it was no trouble" or "it's okay." Additionally, 고맙긴요 is used to humbly or modestly dismiss the thanks being given, while 뭘요 is a shortened, more casual way to say "don't mention it" or "it's nothing."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 별말씀을요 literally implies that the thanks being given are too great or unnecessary to even mention.
Which one should you use?
While 천만에요 is the textbook translation for "you're welcome," it can sound somewhat stiff or overly formal in casual spoken conversation compared to 아니에요. 천만의 말씀입니다 is a highly formal and emphatic way to say "not at all" or "you are quite welcome."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Formal options include 천만에요 and 아니에요. For a more colloquial or casual tone, you can use 뭘요 or 고맙긴요. Note that while 천만에요 is formal, it may feel stiff in everyday speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 고맙긴요 uses the suffix '-긴요' to dismiss the previous statement (the thanks) in a humble or modest way.
How do you pronounce it?
cheonman-eyo
Did you know?
- The extremely formal expression 천만의 말씀입니다 contains the word for 'ten thousand', which adds a sense of grand, emphatic weight to the denial of the thanks.
- In very casual settings, Koreans may skip a formal 'you're welcome' entirely and simply smile or nod. Using a phrase that is too formal in a close relationship can actually create an awkward social distance.
- In Korean culture, responding to thanks by denying the favor happened is a way of showing humility. Phrases like 별말씀을요 essentially tell the other person that their gratitude is unnecessary because the act was too small to merit it.
Examples in context
- 아니에요.You're welcome.This example shows how to use 아니에요 to say you're welcome.Tatoeba #3189869 by cueyayotl, translation #403068 by Ramses
- "감사합니다." "천만에요.""Thank you." "You're welcome."This example shows a dialogue where someone says thank you and the response is 천만에요.Tatoeba #1531868 by cc_neko, translation #2077 by Swift
- 천만에요, 도움이 되었다니 다행이에요.cheonmaneyo, doumi doedaetdani dahaeng-ieyo.You're welcome, I'm glad I could help.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Subin helped Jihun carry some heavy boxes.
- 수빈 Su-bin지훈 씨, 짐 다 옮겼어요.Jihun ssi, jim da omgyeosseoyo.Jihun, I moved all the luggage.
- 지훈 Ji-hun수빈 씨, 정말 감사합니다.Subin ssi, jeongmal gamsahamnida.Subin, thank you so much.
- 수빈 Su-bin천만에요. 도움이 되었다니 기뻐요.cheonmaneyo. doumi doeeotdani gippeoyo.You're welcome. I'm glad I could help.
- 지훈 Ji-hun다음에 제가 꼭 보답할게요.daeume jega kkok bodaphalgeyo.I will definitely pay you back next time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “you're welcome” translations and entries 천만에요, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
