Formal to Acquaintance
Cultural · Communication
どうぞお気になさらず。こちらこそ、いつもお世話になっております。 — Please don't give it a second thought. If anything, I'm the one who is always in your debt. (Cultural · Communication, Formal to Acquaintance, JLPT N3)
You
どうぞお気になさらず。こちらこそ、いつもお世話になっております。
どうぞおきになさらず。こちらこそ、いつもおせわになっております。
Please don't give it a second thought. If anything, I'm the one who is always in your debt.
Romaji: Douzo okini nasarazu. Kochira koso, itsumo osewa ni natte orimasu. / Reply Romaji: Iie, tondemo gozaimasen. Kore kara mo yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
Reply
いいえ、とんでもございません。これからもよろしくお願いします。
いいえ、とんでもございません。これからもよろしくおねがいします。
Not at all, please don't mention it. I look forward to our continued relationship.
Gesture & etiquette
Bow slightly (about 15 degrees) as you deliver this phrase. The reciprocal bow from your conversation partner signals the exchange of mutual respect is complete.
This double-layered phrase deflects thanks gracefully and immediately returns the gratitude — a hallmark of Japanese relational etiquette. Using 「こちらこそ」(it is I who should say so) prevents the conversation from becoming one-sided and maintains mutual appreciation.