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 |
These phrases are used to respond to thanks. 괜찮아요 means 'It's okay' or 'It's fine' and is frequently used as a response to express that something was not a burden or inconvenience.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 별말씀을요 literally translates to 'don't say such words,' used to humbly dismiss the person's thanks. The phrase 별거 아니에요 literally means 'it is not a big deal' or 'it is nothing special,' used to downplay one's effort.
Which one should you use?
While 천만에요 is the textbook translation for 'you're welcome', it can sound slightly stiff or overly formal in casual spoken conversation compared to 아니에요. 고맙긴요 uses a grammatical structure that functions like 'thank you, but…' to humbly suggest that thanks are unnecessary.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
아니에요 is the most common and natural way to say 'you're welcome' in everyday polite conversation. You can use 별말씀을요 (which translates to 'Not at all' or 'Don't mention it') or 아닙니다 (which directly translates to 'It's not' and is commonly used in formal contexts to accept thanks graciously). 뭘요 is a shorter, more colloquial way to say 'it's nothing' when responding to someone's gratitude.
How do you pronounce it?
cheonman-eyo
Did you know?
- The word 천만 in 천만에요 literally means 'ten million', making the phrase historically equivalent to saying 'not in ten million years' or 'not in ten million words'.
- In Korean culture, responding to thanks by modestly denying the favor is a way of showing respect and humility, which is why many 'you're welcome' phrases actually mean 'no' or 'it is nothing'.
- Depending on the hierarchy, a person of higher status may simply nod or smile instead of using a verbal 'you're welcome' phrase, as formal replies can sometimes feel too stiff.
Examples in context
- 아니에요.You're welcome.This sentence shows a simple polite response using 아니에요.Tatoeba #3189869 by cueyayotl, translation #403068 by Ramses
- "감사합니다." "천만에요.""Thank you." "You're welcome."This example demonstrates a formal exchange of thanks and a response using 천만에요.Tatoeba #1531868 by cc_neko, translation #2077 by Swift
- 정말 고맙습니다 / 별 말씀을요Thank you so much / Don't mention it
- 감사드려요 / 아닙니다I appreciate it / It's not a big deal
- 천만에요, 도움이 되었다니 다행이에요.cheonmaneyo, doumi doe-at-dani dahaeng-ieyo.You're welcome, I'm glad I could help.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minjun helped Seoyeon carry a heavy box.
- 서연 Seo-yeon정말 감사합니다, 민준 씨.jeongmal gamsahamnida, Minjun ssi.Thank you so much, Minjun.
- 민준 Min-jun천만에요. 별일 아니에요.cheonmaneyo. byeol-il anieyo.You're welcome. It was nothing.
- 서연 Seo-yeon그래도 정말 고마워요.geuraedo jeongmal gomawoyo.Still, I'm really grateful.
- 민준 Min-jun아무 때나 말씀하세요.amu ttaena malsseumhaseyo.Just let me know anytime.
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.
