what is "you're welcome" supposed to mean?

[pres2032]

don't make fun of me because i'm stupid, but i've never understood what that's supposed to mean. how is that a reply to "thank you"??

I've always just used "no problem" as in "i'd do anything for you"

am i wierd, or do others use other replies other than "you're welcome"?

[bloodyjack]

1. You are welcome to continue taking advantage of my kindness

[skypilot]

2. "You are welcomed"...

...to whatever it is you are saying "thank you" for.

[paineinthearse]

3. "you're welcome" vs. "no problem"

I learned to say "you're welcome" in response to "thank you" and believe "no problem" is either a generational or regional offshoot.

[arwalden]

4. You Are Welcome At Any Time To Benefit From My Kind Gesture To You

is just too long to say. So reasonable people shorten it to "you're welcome".... and the rest is simply understood without being spoken.

[pres2032]

5. thanks everyone

that clears it up!

:yourock:

[KurtNYC]

6. In German the response for Danke (thank you) is bitte (please)

Similar. Short for 'please don't mention it'

[redqueen]

7. Thanks!

I always wondered why the word for 'please' and 'you're welcome' was the same. :hi:

[keopeli]

8. Many languages respond to "thank you" by saying "please" or "if you please

But, even this is vague. What these languages are really trying to say is "pleased" or "it's my pleasure". This is a kind way to demur to the recipient of your kindness. In English, we say "you're welcome" which is actually a reference to the current state of affairs of your relationship with the recipient (like "it's my pleasure" to do this for you), saying "you are welcome (as an invitation to future good will and an acknowledgement of your current state of openness to the recipient). For example, "thank you for helping me" would be met with "you are welcome in my life, you are welcome to my generosity, you are welcome in my circle of friends). Physically, this is demonstrated well in the hand shake, which is an acknowledgement that I have no weapon to use against you or that I choose to use against you.

It's all archaic, but it is polite nonetheless. English is a very polite language, and very descriptive - yet it manages, through colloquialism and common usage, to reduce it's meanings to fewer words (since English has many more words than most languages).

That's my understanding, anyway. I'm willing to be corrected if I've erred. ;)

[pres2032]

9. thank you! that is a most wonderful interpretation