कोई बात नहीं (koii baat nahiin)
phrase
A fixed, everyday expression used to dismiss an apology or brush off a minor problem -- the closest match to English 'no problem' or 'never mind'.
Sense
1
:
no problem, never mind, it's okay
phrase Functions as a stand-alone social formula, not a literal statement -- it does not describe an actual 'matter' but performs the act of reassuring someone.
Synonyms: कोई फ़र्क नहीं (koii fark nahiin, 'no difference/matters not'), ठीक है (thiik hai, 'it's fine'), चलता है (chaltaa hai, colloquial)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the reflexive, warm reply you'll hear the instant someone says सॉरी (sorii) or माफ़ कीजिए (maaf kiijie) -- said quickly, often with a small wave of the hand, to smooth over a bumped shoulder, a spilled cup of chai, or someone arriving late. It carries genuine social warmth in Delhi-NCR: waving away an apology this way is considered gracious, not just polite.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes translate this too literally in their heads as 'there is no matter,' missing that it is a fixed formula, like 'no worries,' used specifically in response to an apology, a mistake, or an offer of thanks. 2) It is not used to mean 'it doesn't matter' in the sense of indifference to a choice -- for that, कोई फ़र्क नहीं पड़ता (koii fark nahiin padtaa) is more natural. 3) Saying this in response to bad news (rather than an apology or minor mishap) can sound dismissive rather than comforting -- it's calibrated for small stuff, not real problems, where सब ठीक हो जाएगा (sab thiik ho jaaegaa) fits better.
Sample Sentences:
सॉरी, मुझे थोड़ी देर हो गई। कोई बात नहीं, बैठो।
Sorry, I'm a little late. No problem, sit down.
(sorii, mujhe thodii der ho gaii। koii baat nahiin, baitho।)
अरे कोई बात नहीं, ऐसा तो होता रहता है।
Oh, no problem, this kind of thing happens.
(are koii baat nahiin, aisaa to hotaa rahtaa hai।)
चाय गिर गई तो क्या हुआ, कोई बात नहीं।
So what if the tea spilled, no problem.
(chaay gir gaii to kyaa huaa, koii baat nahiin।)
माफ़ कीजिए, मुझसे गलती से आपका पैर छू गया। कोई बात नहीं, कोई बात नहीं।
Excuse me, I accidentally touched your foot. No problem, no problem at all.
(maaf kiijie, mujhse galtii se aapkaa pair chhoo gayaa। koii baat nahiin, koii baat nahiin।)
अगर आज नहीं आ पाए तो कोई बात नहीं, कल आ जाना।
If you can't come today, no problem, come tomorrow instead.
(agar aaj nahiin aa paae to koii baat nahiin, kal aa jaanaa।)
उसने कंधा टकरा दिया, पर मैंने कह दिया कोई बात नहीं।
He bumped my shoulder, but I said no problem.
(usne kandhaa takraa diyaa, par mainne kah diyaa koii baat nahiin।)
अगर आपको बुरा भी लगे, तो कोई बात नहीं, मैं समझ सकता हूँ।
Even if you feel bad about it, no problem, I can understand.
(agar aapko buraa bhii lage, to koii baat nahiin, main samajh saktaa hoon।)
काश वो थोड़ा जल्दी बता देता, पर कोई बात नहीं, अब सोच लेंगे।
I wish he had told us a bit sooner, but no problem, we'll figure it out now.
(kaash vo thodaa jaldii bataa detaa, par koii baat nahiin, ab soch lenge।)
बच्चे ने गिलास तोड़ दिया तो माँ बोली, कोई बात नहीं बेटा, चोट तो नहीं लगी?
When the child broke the glass, the mother said, no problem, son, did you get hurt?
(bachche ne gilaas tod diyaa to maan bolii, koii baat nahiin betaa, chot to nahiin lagii?)
देर से आने के लिए माफ़ी चाहूँगा। कोई बात नहीं, हम अभी शुरू ही कर रहे थे।
I apologize for coming late. No problem, we were just about to start.
(der se aane ke lie maafii chaahoongaa। koii baat nahiin, ham abhii shuroo hii kar rahe the।)