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どういたしまして
dō itashimashite
you're welcome
A: ありがとうございます。 B: どういたしまして。
A: Thank you. B: You're welcome.
formal
A polite response to thanks, meaning 'you're welcome' or 'don't mention it'.
「助かりました。」「どういたしまして。」
'You helped me a lot.' 'You're welcome.'
「お世話になりました。」「どういたしまして、またお越しください。」
'Thank you for your help.' 'You're welcome, please come again.'
More formal than いいえ or どういたしまして, often used in business or with strangers. Literally means 'I have done nothing worthy of thanks.'
Collocations
どういたしましてyou're welcome「いいえ、どういたしまして」no, it was nothing
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
When to use どういたしまして
Use this phrase when someone thanks you for something you did, especially in formal settings like business or when helping strangers. It's more polite than simply saying いいえ.
Gold Rule
Response hierarchy in Japanese
In Japanese politeness culture, responses to thanks follow a hierarchy: どういたしまして (most formal) > いいえ (neutral) > 何でもありません (casual) > いえいえ (very casual). Match the level of formality in the conversation.
Word Origin
Composed of どう (how) + いたす (humble verb for 'do') + まして (polite connective form). Literally means 'how have I done [something worthy of thanks]?' reflecting humble gratitude.
Usage Notes
Used in formal or polite contexts. In very casual situations, どういたしまして may sound overly formal. The humble construction emphasizes the speaker's modesty rather than the action itself.
Word Breakdown
どう
how
adverbいたしまして
humble form of する (to do)
verb和英辞典