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Feb 23, 2018 · How do you say no in Japanese? The one word you really need to know is いいえ (iie). It’s pronounced as “ ee-ye .” But, there are more ways of saying no. You will learn them all in the next 3 minutes. Now, keep in mind that Japanese people don’t like saying no. Why? Culture. It’s not polite.
- Iie. いいえ. No (formal) While iie is the first Japanese word for no that is taught to us, using it might come off as cold or rude. You can use other words to soften your refusal instead of sticking with iie.
- Uun. ううん. No (casual) Uun is an utterance, rather than a word. This is used mostly in casual settings, like among family and friends. You can check its intonation and some examples here!
- Iranai. いらない. I don’t need it / No thank you. Iranai can be used among friends. The word iranai comes from iru (要る / いる) meaning ‘to be needed’. Transforming iru into its -nai form makes the verb negative, so it becomes ‘do not need’.
- Kekkou desu. 結構です. No thank you. This is a Japanese phrase for no or refusal in formal settings. It can be used with service staff such as at the supermarket check-out.
- いいえ (Iie) / いえ (Ie): No. You might see this word in your textbook often when you first decide to study Japanese. Iie is the polite form of “no.” It’s not commonly used in everyday life, as it sounds more polite and formal.
- ううん (Uun): Causal Way to Say No. ううん (uun) is a very casual way to say no in Japanese. Because it is casual, you would not say it to someone who has a higher social status than you.
- 大丈夫 (Daijōbu): No / It’s Okay. 大丈夫 (daijōbu) is another word you can use to say no. This might be the most frequently-used way to say no in Japanese. You can use it with people of all ages.
- 嫌 (Iya): No / Unwilling. 嫌 (iya) represents disagreement and unpleasant emotion. When you see something you don’t like or someone has done something you don’t like, you can use this phrase.
Jan 18, 2023 · The most basic way to say “no” in the Japanese language is: いいえ (iie | formal “no”) ううん (uun | casual “no”) Formal “no” in Japanese. いいえ (iie) is the most polite way to say “no” in the Japanese language. You can politely refuse something, reasonably negate someone’s words, and express the opposite feeling.
Apr 11, 2016 · The exact word for no in Japanese is “いいえ (iie)”, but the Japanese actually use a wide range of expressions to avoid having to use a strong no. For example, they could say chotto that convey the “difficulty” to answer the request. A:「明日一緒に飲みませんか?」 B: 「ごめんなさい、明日はちょっと用事があって・・・」 A: Ashita, isshyo ni nomimasen ka?
Mar 13, 2023 · How to Truly Say “No” In Japanese. . Using ちょっと - Chotto to Say No. . Saying 'No' to Friends and Family in Japan. . Saying 'No' in Business Situations in Japan. .
15 Different Ways to Say “No” In Japanese. Just Learn.
