How to Say Yes and No in Japanese

Do you know how to say yes and no in Japanese? This seems like a simple concept but there are actually many different ways to say yes and no. It’s especially important to understand Japanese culture so that you know when and how to use each word.

How to say Yes

はい – hai – yes

This is the most basic way to say “yes” in Japanese. Hai is polite and can be used in most situations.

Q:お寿司すしは好すきですか？
Osushi wa suki desuka?
Do you like sushi?

A:はい！大好だいすききです。
Hai! Daisuki desu.
Yes! I love it.

うん – un – yes

Un is the casual version of hai. It’s perfect to use with friends and family. This sounds immature, so make sure not to use this in professional situations. Keep in mind that this word can also be used as aizuchi (read more here).

Q: 今日きょう暇ひま？
Kyou hima?
Are you free today?

A:うん、暇ひまだよ。
Un, hima dayo.
Yes, I’m free.

いいよ/いいですよ – iiyo/iidesuyo – sure

This is a great way to say “yes” if someone asks you to do something. It can be used informally (いいよ iiyo) or politely（いいですよ iidesuyo).

Casual:
Q:映画えいが見みに行いかない？
Eiga mini ikanai?
Do you want to go see a movie?

A: いいよ! いつ行いく？
Iiyo! Itsu iku?
Sure! When do you want to go?

Polite:
Q: 映画えいがを見みに行いきませんか？
Eiga o mini ikimasenka?
Would you like to go see a movie?

A:いいですよ! いつ行いきますか？
Iidesuyo! Itsu ikimasuka?
Sure! When would you like to go?

お願ねがいします。- onegai  shimasu – yes please

This is used as a polite response when someone is offering you something. Accept the offer by saying onegaishimasu. You can also add hai, yes, before the phrase but it isn’t necessary.

Q:袋ふくろにお入いれしますか？
Fukuro ni oire shimasuka?
Would you like it in the bag?

A: お願ねがいします。
Onegai shimasu.
Yes please.

どうぞ – douzo – go ahead

Douzo can mean many things, but you can also use it as “yes”. An example of this is when someone asks for permission.

Q: となりに座すわってもいいですか？
Tonari ni suwatte mo iidesuka?
Can I sit next to you?

A: どうぞ！
Douzo!
Go ahead!

そう – sou – yes that’s right 

You can use sou when you want to show agreement. It’s usually used in conversations when someone’s saying something that you relate to.

Q: このクラス前まえより難むずかしいよね。
Kono kurasu mae yori muzukashii yo ne.
This class is harder than before, isn’t it?

A: そう！難むずかしくなった気きがする。
Sou! Muzukashiku natta ki ga suru.
Yes! I think it’s gotten harder.

How to say No

いいえ – iie – no

The basic and polite way to  say “no” is  iie. Keep in mind that in Japanese, people don’t say just いいえ. It’s usually followed by a sentence that describes the “no”. 

Q：日本にほんに住すんだことがありますか？
Nihon ni sunda koto ga arimasuka?
Have you ever lived in Japan?

A: いいえ、住すんだことがありません。
Iie, sunda koto ga arimasen.
No, I’ve never lived there.

The more common way you’ll encounter this phrase is when someone is responding to a compliment. In Japanese, it’s considered polite to deny compliments. In this case, いいえ(iie) is usually repeated more than once.

すてきなかばんですね。
Suteki na kaban desune.
That’s a pretty bag.

いいえ、いいえ。安物やすものですよ！
Iie, iie. Yasu mono desuyo!
No, no. It’s a cheap bag!

ううん – uun – no

This is the casual way to say iie. You can use it with friends and family, but it sounds a bit childish. Make sure not to use it in professional situations!

Q: ご飯はん食たべた？
Gohan tabeta?
Have you eaten?

A: ううん。まだ。
Uun. Mada.
No. Not yet.

だめ – dame – No, you can’t

You can use this phrase when you want to tell someone not to do something. It also has the connotation of meaning “bad” so you’ll hear this as the word for scolding. It’s considered informal and you shouldn’t use this with people who are of higher social status than you (older people, strangers, acquaintances)

Q：今日きょう遊園地ゆうえんちに行いってもいい？
Kyou yuuenchi ni itte mo ii?
Can I go to the theme park today?

A: だめ！勉強べんきょうしなさい。
Dame! Benkyou shinasai.
No, you can’t! You have to study.

ちょっと待まって！- chotto matte! – no, wait!

If you need to say “no” to have someone wait, you can use this phrase. This is an informal phrase. 

Q:もう食たべ始はじめていい？
Mou tabe hajimete ii?
Can I start eating?

A: ちょっと待まって！まだご飯はんが炊たき終おわってない。
Chotto matte! Mada gohan ga taki owatte nai.
No, wait! The rice hasn’t finished cooking.

無理むり/無理むりです – muri/muridesu – I can’t 

If someone asks if you can do something, you can use this phrase to say “no”.  Muri is the informal version and muri desu is more formal.

Casual:
Q: 今日きょう映画えいが見みに行いかない？
Kyou eiga mini ikanai?
Do you want to go watch a movie today?

A:今日きょうは無理むり。学校がっこうに行いかないと。
Kyou wa muri. Gakkou ni ikanaito.
Today I can’t. I have to go to school.

Formal:
Q:この後あと飲のみに行いきませんか？
Kono ato nomi ni ikimasen ka?
Would you like to go for a drink after?

A:今日きょうは無理むりです。家いえに帰かえらないといけません。
Kyou wa muri desu. Ie ni kaeranaito ikemasen.
Today I can’t. I have to go home.

まだ/まだです- mada/madadesu – no, not yet

This is also a phrase you can use to mean “no, not yet”. There are two ways formal mada desu and informal mada. 

Casual:
Q:夜よるご飯はん食たべた？
Yorugohan tabeta?
Have you eaten dinner?

A:まだ食たべてない。
Mada tabetenai.
I haven’t eaten yet.

Formal:
Q:仕事しごとは終おわりましたか？
Shigoto wa owari mashitaka?
Have you finished work?

A:まだ終おわっていません。
Mada owatte imasen.
I haven’t finished yet.

嫌いやだ！- iya da! – no way!

Iya da is an informal phrase that means “no way” or “I hate it”. It can be used as a “no” when you want to express distaste. Kids will say this to their parents when they are being forced to do things.

A:部屋へやを片付かたずけなさい！
Heya o katazukenasai!
Clean your room!

B:嫌いやだ！
Iya da!
No way!

違ちがうよ/違ちがいます – chigau/chigaimasu – It’s different or no

This is a phrase that can be used to say that something is different. You should add the correct answer after the phrase.

Casual:
Q:誕生日たんじょうび六月ろくがつだっけ？
Tanjoubi roku gatsu dakke?
Was your birthday in June?

A: 違ちがうよ。三月さんがつだよ。
Chigauyo. Sangatsu dayo
No. It’s in March.

Formal:
Q: アメリカ人じんですか？
Amerika jin desuka?
Are you American?

A: 違ちがいます。イギリス人じんです。
Chigaimasu. Igirisu jin desu.
No, I’m British.

Phrases meaning Yes and No

けっこうです – kekkou desu – no thanks or sure

This phrase can mean both “no thanks” and “sure” depending on the situation. The tone of voice can be important to show which one you mean. Be sure to check out the audio samples for these!

“No Thanks”

If someone offers you something, you can respond with this phrase to say “no, thanks”. This phrase is used in polite situations. Make sure to add いいえ(iie) so that it’s clear you mean no.

Q: 袋ふくろにお入いれしますか？
Fukuro ni oire shimasuka?
Would you like it in a bag?

A: いいえ、けっこうです。
Iie, kekkou desu.
No thanks.

“Sure”

The same phrase can also be used to mean yes. This can be confusing so make sure to add はい(hai) before the phrase. 

Q: コーヒーいかがですか？
Koohii ikagadesuka?
Would you like some coffee?

A: はい、けっこうですね。いただきます。
Hai, kekkoudesune. Itadakimasu.
Yes, sure. I would like some.

大丈夫だいじょうぶ – Daijoubu – yes I’m able to or I’m ok

This is another phrase that can mean yes or no depending on the situation. The word itself means “to be ok”. The tone doesn’t matter for this one, and it is more about the context.

“Yes I’m able to ”

When used as a “yes”. It means that you’re able to do something. 

Q: 作文さくぶん終おわりそう？
Sakubun owarisou?
Do you think you’ll finish the essay?

A: 大丈夫だいじょうぶそう。もう半分はんぶん終おわった。
Daijoubu sou. Mou hanbun owatta.
Yes I think I’ll be able to. I already finished half of it.

“I’m ok”

If you’re ok and don’t need anything more, you can also use it as a “no”. 

Q: 薬くすりはもっと必要ひつようですか？
Kusuri wa motto hitsuyou desuka?
Do you need more medicine?

A:大丈夫だいじょうぶです。
Daijoubu desu.
No thanks, I’m ok.

Saying No more politely

Japanese culture is extremely polite. It’s best not to say “no” directly, but add other phrases to soften it up. In many cases, you’ll want to say “no” but in a roundabout way.

残念ざんねんながら – zannen nagara – unfortunately

This phrase can be used to add your reason for not being able to do something. 

Q: 明日あした映画えいがに行いきませんか？
Ashita eiga ni ikimasen ka?
Would you like to go to the movies tomorrow?

A：残念ざんねんながら、明日あしたは予定よていが入はいっています。
Zannen nagara, ashita wa yotei ga haitte imasu.
Unfortunately, I have plans tomorrow.

大変申たいへんもうし訳わけないのですが – Taihen moushiwake nai no desuga -I’m terribly sorry but…

Another way to say “no” is by apologizing. This phrase could be a way that service industries might say “no”.

Q: 空あいている席せきはありますか？
Aiteiru seki wa arimasu ka?
Are there any free seats?

A:大変たいへん申もうし訳わけないのですが、今日きょうは満席まんせきです。
Taihen moushi wake nai no desuga, kyou wa manseki desu.
I’m terribly sorry but all the seats are full.

As you can see, there are many ways to say yes and no in Japanese! Knowing which one to use will become easier as you get to know the language and culture.

If you’re interested in other Japanese learning content be sure to check out my other blog posts like Japan in Japanese: Is it Nippon or Nihon? or How to order food at a restaurant in Japanese

~Tanuki