In Japanese, saying “yes” isn’t always simple — there are multiple expressions depending on politeness, context, and relationships. Similarly, while a word for “no” exists, direct refusals are often avoided in favor of subtle, indirect responses. This cultural nuance can be challenging for non-native speakers, who may wonder how to say “no” without outright rejecting someone. Understanding these expressions enhances Japanese language skills and provides insight into Japan’s culture of politeness and social harmony.
How to Say Yes in Japanese?
The most common way to say “yes” in Japanese is hai はい, but depending on the situation, other phrases are frequently used. For example, wakarimashita わかりました means “I understand” or “OK, I agree,” often heard in formal settings. In casual conversations, people might say OK desu OKです or ee ええ amongst friends.
Another polite way to express agreement is daijoubu desu 大丈夫です, meaning “yes, that’s fine” or “no problem.” If you want to confirm something, you can use hai, sou desu はい, そうです, which translates to “yes, that’s it.” The phrase dozo どうぞ is also used to encourage or invite someone, like “go ahead” or “please proceed.”
In conversations, Japanese speakers often use short affirmations to show they are listening, a practice called aizuchi 相槌. Common aizuchi include so そう or so so そうそう, which mean “yes, yes,” as well as un うん for “yeah” and aa ああ for “ah, I see.” If surprised, people might say ee え to express shock or disbelief.
For more formal situations, so desu そうです is used, meaning “yes, that’s correct.” A highly respectful variation is so de gozaimasu そうでございます, which belongs to sonkeigo 尊敬語, the honorific language of respect. When reacting with polite surprise, Japanese speakers often say so desu ka そうですか, meaning “Oh, really?” or “Is that so?”
How to (Not) Say No and Politely Refuse in Japanese
Saying “no” in Japan is more nuanced than simply using iie いいえ or iya いや. Direct refusals can feel uncomfortable, so the Japanese often use indirect or softer alternatives.
To politely refuse, you can also say kekko desu 結構です, which means “no thank you,” followed by shaking your hands in front of you in a modest way. The utterance uun うーん (hmm) is a softer way to express a refusal while, softer still, chotto ちょっと, literally means “a little” and is often used to refuse something, such as an invitation. The word is said with a kind of suspense and as though the phrase hasn’t been completed, in the understanding that something would be a little difficult to do (understood to mean it would be impossible).
A common way to decline politely is kekko desu 結構です, meaning “no, thank you,” often accompanied by a modest hand gesture. A hesitant uun うーん or chotto ちょっと, said with a trailing tone, subtly signals refusal without outright rejection. The widely used sumimasen すみません (“excuse me” or “sorry”) can also soften a denial. Stronger refusals include chotto dekimasen ちょっとできません (“I really can’t”) or dame desu だめです (“not possible/forbidden”), sometimes reinforced with an arm-crossing gesture.
In professional settings, indirect phrasing is key. Saying muzukashi desu ne 難しいですね (“it’s difficult”) with a neutral expression often signals rejection. Other responses indicate that it is necessary to think about or study the question alongside expressions such as kangaete okimasu 考えておきますmeaning “I will think about it,” kento shimasu 検討します or doryoku shite mimasu 努力してみます, the latter of which means “I will do my best.” This can be used with your superiors or perhaps a third person who is not involved in the conversation. In referring to an external element that is outside the current situation, politeness must be adopted to signify that they are independent.
A refusal can be accompanied by physical gestures, such as moving the hand from left to right at the same level as the face. As a refusal, the use of the hands can indicate embarrassment, such as putting the hands behind the head, showing an apologetic expression, or shaking hands from side to side.
Why do Japanese Hesitate Saying No?
In reality, the Japanese never truly say no, or instead, they say it without really saying it. The objective is to maintain harmony in a situation by not expressing yourself too directly to avoid offending or upsetting the speaker. As is the case in many Asian countries, direct refusal is regarded as socially unacceptable.
Thankfully, the meaning of these codes of communication and the reliance on context is understood by everyone. Conforming to each code paves the way for mutual understanding and social harmony.
When it comes to refusing something, the response might seem ambiguous. Japanese will often employ stylistic techniques in order to change the subject, avoid the issue completely, shy away from answering, or gently close the discussion.
Linguistic Strategies
In Japanese, the word “yes” is accompanied by a range of utterances and politeness strategies, but it is considered too direct and socially unacceptable to say when it comes to “no.” Various euphemisms and polite phrases are utilized to avoid saying ‘no’ directly. Therefore, the response is expressed by words and by considering the context of the conversation. It’s all a question of knowing how to communicate in the culture and gaining the skills to read between the lines.
Translated by Mark Webster
