How to Say ‘No, thank you.’ in Japanese
こちらこそ。
kochira koso
[koh-chee-rah koh-soh]
💬 Usage Tip: [こちらこそ] is a set reply after thanks, apology, or praise, meaning something like "same here" or "no, thank you." It's not a word-for-word phrase you build each time — best learned as a chunk.
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is very common and natural after someone says [ありがとう]. In dating talk, it can sound warm and slightly humble, like you're returning the feeling rather than just accepting praise.
Phrase Breakdown
こちら
kochira
[koh-chee-rah]
this side; (polite) I/me/us
In this fixed phrase, こちら refers politely to “me/us,” setting up the idea “as for me/us…”
ありがとう。—こちらこそ。
Thank you. —No, thank you / Likewise.
こそ
koso
[koh-soh]
(emphasis) indeed; for my part
Creates the set reply こちらこそ (“No, thank you / likewise”), commonly used after ありがとう.
こちらこそ、また会いたい。
Likewise, I want to see you again.
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