| Expression | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 気にしないで | kini shinai de | Don’t worry about it (casual) |
| 気にしないでください | kini shinai de kudasai | Please don’t worry about it (polite) |
| 大丈夫だよ | daijoubu da yo | It’s fine / No worries |
| 気にしなくていいよ | kini shinakute ii yo | You don’t need to worry about it |
YukaHow do I say “No worries” or “Don’t worry about it” in Japanese?
Rei気にしないで！ is the go-to casual phrase. It literally means “don’t mind it” or “don’t let it bother you.” You can also say 大丈夫だよ (it’s fine!) for a lighter reassurance.
Breaking Down 気にしないで
- 気 (ki) — mind / feeling / spirit
- に (ni) — directional particle
- する (suru) — to do
- 気にする — to mind / to be bothered by / to care about
- しない — negative form of する
- で — te-form-ish ending making it a request
- Together: “Don’t do [the act of] minding it” = “Don’t worry about it!”
How to Use 気にしないで
- 気にしないで。 — Don’t worry about it. (casual)
- 気にしないでください。 — Please don’t worry about it. (polite)
- そんなこと気にしないで！ — Don’t worry about something like that!
- 失敗しても気にしないで。 — Even if you fail, don’t let it bother you.
“No Worries” in Different Situations
| Situation | Expression | Nuance |
|---|---|---|
| Friend apologizes for something small | 気にしないで！ | Don’t worry, it’s nothing |
| Someone is nervous | 大丈夫だよ | It’s okay / You’ll be fine |
| Polite reassurance | お気になさらないでください | Please don’t mind at all (very formal) |
| It doesn’t matter | どうでもいい | I don’t care / Whatever (casual) |
| Forget about it | 忘れて | Just forget about it |
YukaMy Japanese friend apologized to me for something small. What should I say?
Rei気にしないで！ or 全然大丈夫だよ！(Totally fine!) are both perfect. You could also say いいよいいよ (It’s okay, it’s okay!) — repeating いいよ is a very natural casual reassurance.
気にする vs 気にしない
- 気にする (kini suru) — To mind / to worry about / to care what others think
- 気にしない (kini shinai) — Not to mind / not to worry
- 気にしすぎ (kini shisugui) — Worrying too much / overthinking
- 気にならない (kini naranai) — Doesn’t bother me / I don’t notice it
Quick Quiz
How would you respond?
- 1. Your friend says: “ごめん、遅れて！” (Sorry I’m late!) — How do you reassure them?
- 2. Someone bumped into you and apologized. — Your response?
- 3. Your friend is worrying about what others think. — What do you tell them?
Suggested answers: 1. 気にしないで！/ 全然大丈夫！ 2. 気にしないで 3. そんなこと気にしないで！/ 気にしすぎだよ！
💬 Want to practice these phrases with a real person? Find a Japanese conversation partner or tutor on italki — speaking practice you can start today.
Summary
| Expression | Register | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 気にしないで | Casual | Don’t worry about it |
| 気にしないでください | Polite | Please don’t worry about it |
| 大丈夫だよ | Casual | It’s okay / No worries |
| お気になさらないでください | Formal | Please don’t concern yourself |
| いいよいいよ | Very casual | It’s totally fine (repeated reassurance) |
気にしないで is one of the most useful phrases for daily social situations in Japanese. Whether someone apologizes for being late, makes a small mistake, or overthinks a situation — these three words offer instant comfort!
