천만에요

cheon-ma-ne-yo · literally “Not at all (lit. 'out of ten million')”

Situation: A colleague thanks you for helping move some boxes, and you want to say 'You're welcome.'

✕ What AI tells you

Translates 'You're welcome' as '천만에요', the textbook equivalent.

Why it fails: 천만에요 is grammatically correct but sounds old-fashioned and theatrical in everyday speech. Koreans usually brush off thanks by denying there's anything to thank them for.

✓ What Koreans actually say

Reply to thanks with 아니에요 (polite default), 별말씀을요 (to elders or in formal settings) or 뭘요 / 아니야 (casual).

  • 아니에요.

    a-ni-e-yo

    The everyday polite reply — 'No, it's nothing'

  • 별말씀을요.

    byeol-mal-sseu-meul-lyo

    More respectful, to someone older or a customer

  • 뭘~ 아니야.

    mwol a-ni-ya

    Casual, with friends

Cultural nuance, in depth

English answers thanks by welcoming it ('You're welcome', 'My pleasure'). Korean answers by downplaying the favor: 아니에요 literally means 'It isn't (so)', i.e. 'You don't need to thank me.' That modesty is the point, which is why the textbook phrase — itself a strong denial — sounds overdone when real speakers just shrug it off. Staff in shops may also reply 감사합니다 back, thanking the customer in return.