Không sao.

no problem

Questions & Answers about Không sao.

What does each word in Không sao mean?

• không = not / no
• sao is tricky here. In this expression, it does not mean star. It is part of a common phrase meaning something like a problem, something wrong, or anything the matter.

So Không sao is best learned as a fixed expression meaning:

• It’s okay
• No problem
• Nothing’s wrong
• Never mind

A very literal word-for-word translation is not especially helpful here.

Why is there no word for it is in the sentence?

Vietnamese often leaves out things that English requires, especially:

• the subject (it, that, this)
• the verb to be

So instead of saying something like It is not a problem, Vietnamese can simply say:

• Không sao.

This is completely normal and natural. The listener understands the missing subject from the situation.

When do Vietnamese speakers use Không sao?