How to Say Yes and No in Japanese: 12 Essential Expressions

The Short Answer

The most common way to say yes in Japanese is Hai (はい, hah-ee), and the most common way to say no is Iie (いいえ, ee-eh). But Japanese communication is far more nuanced than these two words suggest. In real-world conversation, Japanese speakers have multiple ways to express agreement, and they almost never say "no" directly.

Japanese is spoken by approximately 125 million people, primarily in Japan, according to Ethnologue's 2024 data. Unlike English, where "yes" and "no" are straightforward and used constantly, Japanese culture has developed an elaborate system of indirect communication built around maintaining social harmony. The Agency for Cultural Affairs' 2023 National Language Survey found that over 70% of Japanese adults prefer indirect expressions when declining requests, especially in professional settings.

"The Japanese language does not simply communicate information; it communicates the relationship between speaker and listener. Saying 'no' directly can rupture that relationship in ways that Westerners often fail to appreciate."

(Takeo Doi, The Anatomy of Dependence, Kodansha International, 1971)

This guide covers 12 essential expressions: 6 ways to say yes and 6 ways to say no (including the indirect refusals that Japanese speakers actually use daily). Each includes the Japanese script, romaji pronunciation, and cultural context so you understand not just the words but when and why to use them.

Quick Reference: Yes and No in Japanese

Why Japanese Speakers Rarely Say "No" Directly

Before diving into the specific phrases, it is essential to understand a cultural concept that shapes how yes and no work in Japanese. This is not a minor cultural footnote; it is the foundation of Japanese communication.

Japanese culture places enormous value on wa (和), social harmony. Directly rejecting someone, even in small matters, can disrupt wa by causing the other person to lose face. To avoid this, Japanese speakers have developed a sophisticated system of indirect refusals that communicate "no" without ever saying the word.

空気を読む (Kuuki wo yomu): Reading the Air

The concept of kuuki wo yomu (空気を読む, reading the air) means picking up on unspoken social cues. When a Japanese speaker says chotto... (that's a bit...) and trails off, they are not being vague. They are giving a clear "no" that any Japanese listener would immediately understand. Someone who cannot read these signals is called KY (kuuki yomenai, "can't read the air"), which is a genuine social criticism in Japan.

本音と建前 (Honne to Tatemae): True Feelings vs. Public Face

According to Takeo Doi's landmark work The Anatomy of Dependence, Japanese communication operates on two layers: honne (本音, true feelings) and tatemae (建前, the public-facing position). When someone says kangaete okimasu (I'll think about it), their tatemae is open-mindedness, but their honne is almost always "no." Understanding this duality is critical for anyone communicating in Japanese.

Ways to Say Yes in Japanese

These six expressions cover the full range of agreement, from formal business acknowledgment to enthusiastic casual agreement.

はい (Hai)

Hai is the foundation of affirmative communication in Japanese. It covers far more than simple agreement. It also functions as "here" during roll call, "understood" when receiving instructions, and as a listening signal during phone calls. According to Makino and Tsutsui's A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar, hai is one of the most frequently used words in the entire language.

One important nuance: hai does not always mean the speaker agrees with you. In conversation, Japanese listeners say hai repeatedly to indicate they are following along, not that they approve. This catches many foreign speakers off guard.

うん (Un)

Un is what you will hear in everyday casual conversation among friends. It functions exactly like the English "yeah" or "uh-huh." You will hear it constantly in Japanese films and anime. Check out our guide to the best movies for learning Japanese to hear it in natural context.

ええ (Ee)

Ee sits between hai and un on the formality spectrum. It is polite enough for most social situations but carries a warmer, less rigid tone than hai. NHK language materials note that ee is particularly common in Kansai (Osaka/Kyoto region) dialect, where it appears even more frequently than in standard Tokyo Japanese.

そうです (Sou desu)

Sou desu is specifically for confirming that something is correct. If someone asks "Is this the train to Shibuya?" the natural response is hai, sou desu (yes, that's right). The casual form sou da yo drops the politeness, while sou desu ne adds the particle ne and shifts the meaning toward "yes, I suppose so," more of a thinking-aloud expression.

もちろん (Mochiron)

Mochiron adds emphasis and enthusiasm to your agreement. It signals that the answer is not just yes but obviously yes. In business contexts, mochiron desu (adding the polite copula) is common when accepting a request or confirming availability. It carries a warmth that plain hai lacks.

了解 (Ryoukai)

Ryoukai has migrated from formal military and business acknowledgment into everyday casual use, especially in digital communication. On LINE (Japan's dominant messaging app) and workplace chat tools, ryoukai or the abbreviated ryokai is one of the most common responses. The polite form ryoukai shimashita (understood, formal) is appropriate in business emails and meetings.

Ways to Say No in Japanese

This is where Japanese diverges from English. While the direct forms exist, the indirect forms are what Japanese speakers actually use in daily life.

いいえ (Iie)

Iie is the word every Japanese textbook teaches first, but real-world usage is far more limited than learners expect. You will hear it most often as a humble deflection of compliments (iie, iie, meaning "oh no, not at all") or to correct factual mistakes. As a direct refusal to a request or invitation, iie can feel jarringly blunt in Japanese social contexts.

いや (Iya)

Iya is the casual counterpart to iie. Among friends, it functions much like the English "nah" or "no way." It also doubles as a conversation filler: starting a sentence with iya... can mean "well..." or "actually..." without necessarily expressing disagreement. Context and tone make the difference.

ちょっと (Chotto)

Chotto is arguably the most important "no" expression for learners to understand. Literally meaning "a little," it becomes a polite refusal when used with a trailing tone and unfinished sentence. The speaker implies that something is a bit difficult or a bit inconvenient without spelling it out. This is tatemae in action: the surface words say "a little" while the true meaning is a clear decline.

難しい (Muzukashii)

In Japanese business culture, muzukashii (difficult) is one of the most common ways to say no. When a client proposes an unrealistic deadline and the Japanese side responds sore wa chotto muzukashii desu ne (that's a bit difficult), they are not inviting negotiation. They are declining. According to NHK's business Japanese materials, this is among the top expressions that foreign professionals misinterpret in Japanese workplaces.

だめ (Dame)

Dame is one of the few direct, unambiguous ways to say "no" in Japanese. It means something is not allowed, not acceptable, or no good. Parents use it with children (dame!, meaning "stop that!"), it appears on prohibition signs, and friends use it casually to shoot down bad ideas. Unlike chotto or muzukashii, there is no ambiguity. Dame means no.

結構です (Kekkou desu)

Kekkou desu is the go-to expression for politely declining offers. When a shop clerk asks if you want a bag, a waiter offers more water, or a colleague offers to help, kekkou desu is the smooth, socially correct refusal. One quirk noted by Makino and Tsutsui: kekkou has two opposite meanings depending on context: it can mean "quite good" (positive) or "I'm fine without it" (declining). Tone and context make the difference clear to native speakers.

Yes and No in Context: Business vs. Casual

The gap between business and casual communication in Japanese is enormous. Here is how agreement and disagreement shift across settings.

Practice With Real Japanese Content

Reading about yes and no builds your knowledge, but hearing these expressions in real conversations (with the pauses, the trailing tones, the sharp dame! from a frustrated character) is what makes them stick. Japanese films and dramas are especially useful here because they naturally demonstrate the gap between direct and indirect communication.

Wordy lets you watch Japanese movies and shows with interactive subtitles. Tap on any expression to see its meaning, romaji pronunciation, formality level, and cultural context in real time. You will quickly learn to recognize the difference between a genuine hai and a polite chotto... that really means no.

For more Japanese language content, explore our blog for guides including the best movies to learn Japanese. You can also visit our Japanese learning page to start practicing with authentic content today.