Learn Japanese – What is 大丈夫 (Daijobu/Daijoubu)?
Are you learning Japanese and looking to use the word 大丈夫 or “daijobu/daijoubu” in daily conversation?
大丈夫 is similar to the word “All right” or “Okay” in English – but in addition to this, there are many ways that you can use it in Japanese.
In this article, we will cover 20 ways to use 大丈夫 properly.
20 Examples of using Daijoubu
1. If you fall down / you injure yourself – you can let people know that you are fine by exclaiming
- 大丈夫です – Daijobu desu (I’m okay!) Polite/ Formal
- 大丈夫 – Daijobu (I’m okay!) – Casual / Informal
2. You can ask someone else if they alright after a fall.
- 大丈夫ですか? Daijobu desu ka? – (Are you alright?)
3. You can confirm appointments by asking if a certain time is “okay”.
- 月曜日は大丈夫ですか?- Getsuyoubi wa daijobu desu ka? – (Is Monday okay?)
4. You can ask if someone is alright after being unwell / having something happen to them.
- もう大丈夫ですか? – Mou daijobu desu ka? – Are you alright now?
5. You can ask what time you can call someone.
- あなたに何時から電話しても大丈夫ですか? – Anata ni nan ji kara denwa shi temo daijobu desu ka? – What time is okay to call you?
6. You can give a range of time that it would be okay to do something (such as call or have a meeting).
- 私は18時から20時くらいまでなら大丈夫です – Watashi wa jyuu hachi ji kara ni jyuu kurai made nara daijoubu desu. – Any time from 6 – 8 PM is okay for me!
7. You can ask if it is okay to do something specific – like delete files off of a computer.
- これらのファイルを消しても大丈夫ですか?- Korera no fairu o keshite mo daijobu desu ka? – Is it okay to delete these files?
8. You can express that you think something should be alright.
- たぶん大丈夫だ。Tabun daijobu da. – It should be alright.
9. You can reassure someone if they apologize to you for bumping in to you on the train.
- Person A – すみません! Sumimasen (Sorry!) Person B – 大丈夫ですよ Daijobu desu yo – It’s fine!
10. You can ask someone if eating a certain food would be okay to eat.
- ピザで大丈夫?- Pi za de daijobu? (Is Pizza okay?)
You can use daijobu to ask for approval.
11. You can use it to reassure someone that they will be fine in the future.
(Ex: such as if they have a test or an exam and they are worried about it.)
- あなたはきっと大丈夫。Anata wa kitto daijōbu. (You will be fine. (just fine))
12. You can use it to state your surety / how convinced you are that something will happen.
- 大丈夫彼は来ますよ – daijobu kare wa kimasu yo. – (He will come – you can count on it.)
13. You can ask if something is safe / okay to use / do.
- この水は大丈夫かね – Kono mizu wa daijobu ka ne (Is this water safe to drink?)
14. You can promise that something will be okay / give your word that you can be depended upon.
- 大丈夫請け合います – Daijobu uke aimasu – (It will be okay – I guarantee you)
15. You can express that something is fine with you personally.
- 私は大丈夫です – Watashi wa daijoubu desu (It’s alright with me. / I am okay with it.)
16. You can ask if someone is feeling okay.
- 気分は大丈夫ですか。- Kibun wa daijobu desu ka? – (Are you feeling okay?)
17. You can ask if a trait / characteristic of something is okay.
- このサイズで大丈夫でしょうか – Kono saizu de daijoubu deshou ka? – (Is the size okay?)
18. You can express that there’s no need to do something.
- 送ってくれなくて大丈夫です – Okutte kurenakute daijobu desu (There’s no need to send it.)
19. You can ask if something was okay in the past. I.E. Weather
- 天気は大丈夫だった?- Tenki wa daijoubu datta? – Was the weather okay?
20. You can ask someone for additional confirmation that something is alright
Ex: if they are sure they are alright with something.
- これで大丈夫でしょうか – Kore de daijobu deshouka? – Are you sure you are okay with this?
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