"Donmai": Japan's Feather-Light Word of Comfort

Have you ever seen a friend spill a little water, miss a shot in a game, or lose a round of video games, and you felt awkward, not knowing how to comfort them lightly? 😥

In such situations, Japanese people have a super convenient 'magic word': 「ドンマイ！」(Donmai!)

What is "Donmai"?

This is a Wasei-eigo (和製英語 - Japanese-made English word), derived from "Don't mind."

It's used to console or encourage someone who has just made a small mistake or experienced a minor failure. It has a very light, positive nuance, like a pat on the back saying, "Don't worry about it!", "It's no big deal!", or "Shake it off!"

Real-Life Usage Scenarios পরিস্থিতি

Donmai is the ultimate 'weapon' in casual, informal contexts.

• In sports 🏀:

  A: 「あ、シュート外しちゃった…」 (A: Ah, I missed the shot...) B: 「**ドンマイ、ドンマイ！**次があるよ！」 (B: Don't worry, don't worry! There's always a next time!)

• At work (for minor errors) 📁:

  Colleague: 「すみません、コピーの枚数間違えました。」(Sorry, I printed the wrong number of copies.) You: 「あ、ドンマイです。すぐやり直せますよ。」(Oh, no worries. We can redo it right away.)

• When a friend has a bit of bad luck 🚶‍♂️:

  Friend: 「うわ、電車乗り過ごした…」 (Ugh, I missed my train stop...) You: 「**ドンマイ！**次の電車に乗れば間に合うよ。」 (No biggie! You'll make it if you catch the next train.)

⚠️ Important Note!

Donmai has a very casual, informal nuance. NEVER use it with your superiors or in situations requiring formality and seriousness.

❌ Incorrect Example: Your boss makes a significant error in a presentation in front of a client. You run up, pat their shoulder, and say: 「部長、ドンマイです！」 (Don't worry about it, Boss!) → This is extremely rude!

In that case, you should remain silent or find a more subtle way to 'fix' the situation. Donmai is reserved for 'feather-light' mistakes among peers or with people younger than you! 😉