Zenzen daijoubu /zenzen heiki : As we know, simply knowing the basics of Japanese is not enough to feel fluency! As part of your journey into becoming a Japanese master, knowing common slang and casual conversation phrases are quite vital! For this blog, we will be talking about two VERY common, but quite confusing slang phrases that can be used in casual conversations,
Contents
- 1 Everything is going to be okay: Zenzen daijoubu /zenzen heiki
- 2 What does 大丈夫 or “daijoubu” mean?
- 2.1 Asking if someone is okay (condition, feelings, health)
- 2.2 Asking opinions of other people and expressing opinion
- 2.3 Asking permission to do something and giving approval
- 2.4 Asking and expressing the condition, health, feelings of something or someone
- 2.5 Expressing reassurance to someone if they apologize to you
- 2.6 Reassuring someone about their feelings
- 3 What does 平気 or “heiki” mean?
- 4 What does 全然 or “zenzen” mean?
- 5 Study in Japan?
Everything is going to be okay: Zenzen daijoubu /zenzen heiki
Word per word examination
Since there are three main words in these phrases, it would be better to discuss them one by one to have a better, more in depth understanding of their usage. These words can be used separately as well so it’s a win win situation!
What does 大丈夫 or “daijoubu” mean?
This word is probably one of the most common words you could hear not just in real life conversations, but Japanese media as well. This is also considered to be quite an easy word that students usually learn in the beginning of their journey into mastering Japanese. To be honest, this can be considered to be one of the most versatile words in the Japanese language! It mainly means “it’s fine/it’s okay” but again, there are so many uses! Since there are SO many uses for it, here are just some of them so you can have a general idea!
Asking if someone is okay (condition, feelings, health)
田中さんは大丈夫ですか？
Tanakasan wa daijoubu desu ka?
Is Tanaka san okay?
Asking opinions of other people and expressing opinion
Aさん：この色は大丈夫でしょうか？
Bさん：その色は大丈夫です！
A san: Kono iro wa daijoubu deshou ka?
B san: Sono iro wa daijoubu desu!
Person A: Is the color okay?
Person B: That color is fine!
Asking permission to do something and giving approval
Aさん：これらのお茶を飲んでも大丈夫ですか？
Bさん：大丈夫ですよ。
A san: Korera no ocha wo nonde mo daijyoubu desu ka?
B san: Daijoubu desu yo.
Person A: Is it okay to drink this tea?
Person B: It’s okay.
Asking and expressing the condition, health, feelings of something or someone
Aさん：気分は大丈夫ですか？
Bさん：私は大丈夫です！
A san: Kibun wa daijoubu desu ka?
B san: Watashi wa daijoubu desu!
Person A: Are you okay?
Person B: I am fine!/ I am okay!/ I am not hurt!
Expressing reassurance to someone if they apologize to you
Aさん：あー！すみません！
Bさん：大丈夫ですよ！
A san: A-! Sumimasen!
B san: Daijoubu desu yo!
Person A: Ah! I’m sorry!
Person B: It’s fine!
Reassuring someone about their feelings
多分大丈夫ですよ。心配しないで。
Tabun daijoubu desu yo. Shinpai shinai de.
It’s probably going to be fine. Don’t worry!
What does 平気 or “heiki” mean?
Also considered to be one of the most common things that you can hear in conversations, this word is commonly used in casual conversations rather than formal ones. Technically speaking, it means “unconcern, calmness, coolness” but similarly enough to the word daijoubu, it has quite a lot of uses and is mainly used to express being “fine, okay, not bothered, no problem”. Here are a few examples of heiki being used in sentences.
Asking and expressing condition of something/someone
Aさん：大丈夫ですか？痛い？
Bさん：いえ、平気です！
A san: Daijoubu desu ka? Itai?
B san: Ie, heiki desu!
Person A: Are you okay? Is it painful?
Person B: No, I’m fine!
Asking and expressing approval
Aさん：このサラダは平気？彼はベジタリアンですよね。
Bさん：サラダは平気です！
A san: Kono sarada wa heiki? Kare wa vegetarian desu yo ne.
B san: Sarada wa heiki desu!
Person A: Is the food okay? He is vegetarian.
Person B: Salad is fine!
Expressing carelessness/ feeling of being unbothered by something
彼は平気で嘘をつきます。
Kare wa heiki de uso wo tsukimasu.
He has no hesitation lying/ He shamelessly lies.
What does 全然 or “zenzen” mean?
For this word, it is actually a very informal expression that changes its meaning depending on whether its used in a positive or negative sense. Although technically, it should be negative, it can be both if used in an informal setting. It is negative when used with negative verbs and positive, in a slang-y, sarcastic way. Positively used, it means “totally/completely” and when negatively used means “not at all”. Of course, since it is slang, it can come off as something closer to “omg yes” in a positive sentence and “h*ll no” in a negative sentence. Here are a few examples of zen zen being used in sentences.
Negative (grammatically correct)
最近晩御飯を全然食べませんでした。
Saikin asagohan wo zenzen tabemasen deshita.
Recently (I) haven’t been eating anything at all for breakfast.
Positive (used informal speech and writing for emphasis)
明日のライブにいける！全然いける！
Ashita no raibu ni ikeru! Zenzen ikeru!
I can go to tomorrow's live concert! I can definitely go!
Zenzen daijoubu/ Zenzen heiki
Now that we have discussed the meaning of all the words in the phrases above, we can now talk about the general idea of these phrases.
What does it mean?
Although both are considered grammatically wrong, they are slang phrases used to express how something or someone is “totally/ perfectly/ definitely okay!” or maybe even “totally/ perfectly/ definitely fine!”. It has some humour in it since it technically doesn’t make sense together but again, it is slang and is used mainly by young people in casual/social situations.
When should I use it?
Since it is a slang word, it can and should only be used in an informal setting so don’t expect to hear or see it in a business or formal setting!
Here are a few instances where you can use these phrases.
Expressing that your health/condition/feelings are fine
Aさん：いたそう！大丈夫ですか？
Bさん：うん。全然大丈夫。
A san: Itasou! Daijoubu desu ka?
B san: Un. Zenzen daijoubu.
Person A: It looks painful! Are you okay?
Person B: Yeah. I’m perfectly fine.
Expressing your absolute approval of something
Aさん：その花束はどう？
Bさん：わー！全然平気！
A san: Sono hana taba wa dou?
B san: Wa! Zenzen heiki!
Person A: What do you think of that flower bouquet?
Person B: Wow! It's perfect!
Expressing reassurance
Aさん：そのケーキは大きいすぎるじゃない？
Bさん：いいえ。全然大丈夫！
A san: Sono keki wa okii sugiru jya nai?
B san: Iie. Zenzen daijoubu!
Person A: Isn’t that cake too big?
Person B: No. It’ll be totally fine.