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What would be appropriate expressions or idioms to convey the typical English
response:

> What's it to you?

(in a sense that goes somewhere between "None of your business" and "This is
not your problem")

The best I can think of is `あなたには関係ない`. I am looking for other possibly
**softer, more polite** ways of expressing the same idea.

(as an aside, if you have _less_ polite, more direct, I am also curious)

PS: Before anybody comments: I realise that any variation on this _will_ sound
too direct and potentially rude for many situations in Japan, however softly
it is formulated. But the general idea _is_ to be trenchant, in situations
which might call for it... so no need to dwell on the rudeness aspect too
much.

**Edit:** tough to pick from many overlapping (quality) answers, but in the
end, I think Rey's encompassed exactly the nuance(s) I was interested in.
Thanks everybody for the great suggestions!
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2011-07-04T06:43:13.320
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translation colloquial-language expressions
How to say "What's it to you?" in Japanese?
How about something along the lines of:

> なぜそんなの知りたいの？

Depending on how you deliver it and who you're talking to, it can be pretty
aggressive or just a somewhat innocent question.
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2011-07-04T07:18:17.287
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What about a classically rude "none of your business"? Something along
あんたに用はない！ おっら！ (with scottish r's).
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2011-07-04T08:34:40.360
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I honestly don't think there's any way to answer this given the condition that
it should be polite, even with Japanese's overgrown arsenal of euphemisms and
niceties.

I can't think of one in English either; probably because any insinuation of
the sentiment "get lost" is universally obvious.

But depending on the situation, you might be able to get away with something
like:

> ご心配なさらないでください。 (Please do not worry about me.)

Or:

> ほっといてください。 (Leave me be.)

Being the Canadian-raised cynic with juvenile tendencies that I am, I'd
probably say:

> だったら何だっての？ (So what?)

Which in cleanest clothes might be:

> だとしたらどうだというんですか？
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2011-07-04T08:37:21.480
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Maybe a question that should become community wiki as there is no definite
answer.

All these expressions can show different levels of annoyance depending on your
tone.

**１－** 関係ない

> あなたには関係がないでしょうが
>
> オメーにかんけぃねぇー

**２－** せんさく

Intrusive / nosy, same as above, you can play with different variations

> せんさく。。。
>
> 人のことをせんさくするな
>
> よけいなせんさくはやめてくれ
>
> せんさく好きな人だな

**３－** せっかい

> あまりおせっかいしないで
>
> よけいなお節介だ

**４－** 知る

> お前の知ったことではない

**５－** 首を突っ込む

> 私のことに首を突っ込まないでくれ

**６－** 聞く

> そんなこと聞かれても困るよ

**７－** Return the question

> あんたはどうだ？
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> Less aggressive / forceful and more matter-of-factly way of saying "What's
> it to you?", "None of your business"

There are several strategies for countering an invasion of your private
matters, as you can see from this conceptual diagram:

```

    my idea of "private matters"
    ------------------> A
    me                  |             you
                |<------------------- are invading it 
                B
    
```

  * (a) Declare that line B is inappropriate
  * (b) Plead the other person to back off from line B
  * (c) Indicate that you're uncomfortable with the divergence of line A and line B
  * (d) Make clear that line A is your last line

あなたには関係ない and other variants (余計なお世話、筋合いはない、知ったことじゃない) all fall under strategy
(a) and, more or less equal in terms of forcefulness.

While (c) is the least aggressive and also very Japanese for being vague, (b)
or (d) better meets the requirement of explicitly expressing the acceptable
boundary of privacy. Examples:

> 昨日薬局にいるのを見かけたんだけど、何買ってたの? I saw you in the chemist yesterday, what did you
> buy? (from [wiktionary:what's it to
> you](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/what%27s_it_to_you))
>
> (c) いや、ちょっとね...それよりさあ、 Well, you know...uh, anyway...
>
> (d) 秘密。 It's a secret.
>
> \--
>
> サムと何を話してたんですか? What were you talking with Sam? (adapted from
> [wiktionary:none of your
> business](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/none_of_your_business))
>
> いや、 (d) こっちの話ですから、 (b) お気になさらず。 It's _our_ business, so please don't trouble
> yourself.
>
> \--
>
> どうも納得できません。 I'm still not convinced.
>
> (d) 私の問題ですから、 (b) もう何も言わないでください。 It's my own problem, so please don't say no
> more.
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I was just now idly browsing through saiga-jp.com and stumbled upon:

```

    大きなお世話だ（おおきなおせわだ） / This is none of your business., Never you mind.
    
```
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2011-08-19T07:46:25.547
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```

    なぜ「あなたは」それを心配している？
    
```

Saying basically, "why are you so worried about it?"
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2014-04-29T19:55:29.263
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> こっちの{問題 / 話}です。かまわなくていい。

This translates basically into:

> "This is my {problem / issue}, you don't have to get involved."
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2014-04-30T04:25:25.657
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This would be a little on the polite side, as if it's an actual question as
much as a warning-off:

どうして気になりますか？
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