A2 Expression Formel

お気遣いなく

Okizukai naku

Please don't trouble yourself

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A polite, essential phrase used to decline an offer of help or to tell someone not to worry about you.

  • Means: 'Please don't go to any trouble' or 'Don't worry about me.'
  • Used in: Business meetings, visiting homes, or when someone offers a kind gesture.
  • Don't confuse: It's not for close friends; use 'Ki ni shinaide' instead.
🙏 (Gratitude) + 🛑 (Boundary) = 😊 (Social Harmony)

Explanation at your level:

This is a polite way to say 'No, thank you' when someone wants to help you. It is very common in Japan. You use it with teachers or people you don't know well. It means 'Don't worry about me.'
At this level, you should use '{お気遣い|おきづかい}なく' to decline offers of hospitality or help politely. It's more formal than 'Daijoubu.' Use it when a host offers you a drink or a seat to show you are being thoughtful of their time.
This expression is essential for navigating social boundaries. It functions as a polite refusal that prioritizes the other person's convenience. It's often paired with 'Douzo' to soften the tone. Understanding the difference between this and 'Okamainaku' is key at this stage.
This phrase embodies the 'Enryo' (restraint) culture. It's a pragmatic tool used to manage social debt. By declining 'Kizukai,' you prevent an imbalance in the relationship. It is frequently used in business correspondence to decline unnecessary accommodations or gifts.
Linguistically, the phrase utilizes the honorific 'O-' and the adverbial 'naku' to create a distancing effect that is paradoxically warm. It acknowledges the 'Ki' (spirit) of the benefactor while simultaneously negating the need for its expenditure, thus maintaining the 'Wa' (harmony) without incurring 'Giri' (social obligation).
Mastery of '{お気遣い|おきづかい}なく' involves navigating the subtle 'Tatemae' (public face) of Japanese social interaction. It requires an intuitive grasp of when a refusal is a genuine preference versus a ritualistic requirement of humility. A near-native speaker uses this to modulate the 'interpersonal distance' (Ma), ensuring that the recipient feels appreciated but not burdened by the weight of their own hospitality.

Signification

A polite way to tell someone not to worry or make special efforts for you.

🌍

Contexte culturel

The concept of 'Enryo' (restraint) is central. Declining an offer once or twice is often seen as more polite than accepting immediately. In business, 'Okizukai naku' helps maintain a professional distance. It prevents the other party from feeling they have to perform extra labor, which could create a 'debt' (Giri). In Kyoto, politeness can be even more indirect. 'Okizukai naku' might be used to signal that a visit should end soon. In Slack or email, 'Okizukai naku' is used to reduce the 'reply burden.' People add 'Henshin ni wa oyobimasen node, okizukai naku' (No need to reply, don't worry).

🎯

The 'Douzo' Softener

Always add 'Douzo' before the phrase to sound 10x more natural and polite.

⚠️

Don't be too cold

If you say it too fast without a smile, it can sound like 'Leave me alone.' Pair it with a small bow.

Signification

A polite way to tell someone not to worry or make special efforts for you.

🎯

The 'Douzo' Softener

Always add 'Douzo' before the phrase to sound 10x more natural and polite.

⚠️

Don't be too cold

If you say it too fast without a smile, it can sound like 'Leave me alone.' Pair it with a small bow.

💬

The Second Offer

In Japan, if someone says 'Okizukai naku,' it's polite to offer one more time just to be sure. If they say it again, then stop.

Teste-toi

Match the response to the situation.

A neighbor brings you some extra vegetables from their garden.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : お気遣いなく！ありがとうございます。

This expresses that they shouldn't have gone to the trouble, while still being grateful.

Complete the sentence to be polite.

すぐ失礼しますので、どうぞ（　　　）なく。

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : お気遣い

The full polite form requires the 'O' prefix and the word 'Kizukai'.

Which phrase is best for a close friend?

Your best friend offers to buy you a coffee.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 気にしないで！

'Okizukai naku' is too formal for a best friend.

Complete the business dialogue.

Staff: 雨ですので、駅までお送りしましょうか？ You: いいえ、（　　　）。タクシーを呼びましたから。

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : お気遣いなく

'Okizukai naku' is the most standard way to decline a polite offer of help like a ride.

🎉 Score : /4

Aides visuelles

When to use which 'Don't Worry'

💼

Formal/Business

  • • Okizukai naku
  • • Oki ni nasarazu
🏠

Hospitality/Home

  • • Okamainaku
🤝

Friends/Casual

  • • Ki ni shinaide
  • • Daijoubu

Questions fréquentes

4 questions

Not exactly. 'No thank you' (Kekkou desu) is a direct refusal. 'Okizukai naku' is more about the other person's effort. It's softer.

Yes, it is very common in business emails to tell someone they don't need to reply or take extra steps.

'Okamainaku' is for hospitality (food, drinks, hosting). 'Okizukai' is for general concern or effort.

No, it's actually very polite because it shows you are thinking about their busy schedule.

Expressions liées

🔗

{お構|おかま}いなく

similar

Don't go to any trouble (specifically for hospitality).

🔗

{遠慮|えんりょ}なく

contrast

Without hesitation / Please feel free.

🔗

{気|き}にしないで

informal alternative

Don't worry about it.

🔗

{お気|おき}になさらず

similar

Don't let it bother you.

Où l'utiliser

🍵

Declining tea at a business meeting

Secretary: お{茶|ちゃ}をお{持|も}ちしましょうか？

You: あ、どうぞ{お気遣い|おきづかい}なく。すぐ{失礼|しつれい}しますので。

formal
🚃

Declining a seat on the train

Kind Stranger: どうぞ、{座|すわ}ってください。

You: ありがとうございます。でも、すぐ{降|お}りますので{お気遣い|おきづかい}なく。

neutral
🎁

Responding to a gift

Neighbor: これ、つまらないものですが、どうぞ。

You: まあ、そんなに{お気遣い|おきづかい}なく！ありがとうございます。

formal
📧

In a business email

Client: {資料|しりょう}を{郵送|ゆうそう}しましょうか？

You: PDFで{頂|いただ}きましたので、どうぞ{お気遣い|おきづかい}なく。

formal
☔

Declining an umbrella

Friend's Mom: {雨|あめ}ですよ。{傘|かさ}を{貸|か}しましょうか？

You: {車|くるま}ですから、どうぞ{お気遣い|おきづかい}なく。

neutral
🏨

At a hotel front desk

Staff: {荷物|にもつ}をお{部屋|へや}までお{持|も}ちします。

You: {小|ちい}さいバッグだけですので、どうぞ{お気遣い|おきづかい}なく。

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'O-Kizukai' as 'Oh, Key's away!'—you are telling them to put the 'key' to their effort away because you don't need it.

Visual Association

Imagine someone holding a heavy tray of tea and you gently placing your hand out to stop them, with a smile, saying 'Naku' (None/No).

Rhyme

Don't be a guy who makes them use their Ki-tsukai, just say Okizukai-naku and fly!

Story

You enter a Japanese office. The secretary starts running to get you a fancy chair. You feel bad because you're only staying for a minute. You say 'Okizukai-naku!' and she stops, smiles, and feels relieved that she doesn't have to carry the heavy chair.

Word Web

{気|き} (Spirit){使う|つかう} (To use){気遣い|きづかい} (Concern){無い|ない} (None){遠慮|えんりょ} (Restraint){迷惑|めいわく} (Nuisance){丁寧|ていねい} (Polite){お構い|おかまい} (Hospitality)

Défi

Next time you are in a Japanese restaurant and the waiter offers an extra napkin or water you don't need, try saying 'Douzo, okizukai naku' instead of just 'Daijoubu.'

In Other Languages

English high

Please don't go to any trouble.

Japanese focuses on the 'spirit/mind' (Ki), English focuses on the 'trouble'.

Spanish high

No se moleste.

Spanish 'molestarse' implies a bother, whereas 'Kizukai' implies a mental effort.

French high

Ne vous dérangez pas.

French focuses on 'disturbing' the person's current state.

German moderate

Machen Sie sich keine Umstände.

German 'Umstände' refers to the external fuss/arrangements.

Chinese moderate

不用客气 (Bùyòng kèqì)

Chinese focuses on 'Ke' (guest) behavior, Japanese on 'Ki' (spirit).

Korean high

신경 쓰지 마세요 (Singyeong sseuji maseyo)

Korean is slightly more direct in its verbal form.

Arabic moderate

لا تغلب حالك (La taghleb halak)

Arabic focuses on the physical/mental 'tiring' of the person.

Portuguese high

Não se incomode.

Focuses on the 'inconvenience' (incômodo).

Easily Confused

お気遣いなく vs {お構|おかま}いなく

Both mean 'don't worry,' but they apply to different things.

Use 'Okamainaku' for food/drink/hospitality. Use 'Okizukai naku' for everything else (help, concern, gifts).

お気遣いなく vs {遠慮|えんりょ}しないで

Learners sometimes use this to mean 'I don't need help.'

'Enryo shinaide' means 'YOU don't be shy.' 'Okizukai naku' means 'I am fine, don't worry about ME.'

FAQ (4)

Not exactly. 'No thank you' (Kekkou desu) is a direct refusal. 'Okizukai naku' is more about the other person's effort. It's softer.

Yes, it is very common in business emails to tell someone they don't need to reply or take extra steps.

'Okamainaku' is for hospitality (food, drinks, hosting). 'Okizukai' is for general concern or effort.

No, it's actually very polite because it shows you are thinking about their busy schedule.

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