ねえ
nē[ne̞ː]
The English phrase "hey you" can be translated into Japanese as ねえ (nē).
ねえ is an informal expression used to initiate a conversation, get someone's attention or mean "say" or "look".
Which one should you use?
While ねえ is used to start a sentence, it is a much softer and more conversational way to get attention than using a person's name or an aggressive call like おい.
How does it change in a sentence?
Doubling the word to ねえねえ makes the call for attention more casual and often more insistent or excited.
How do you pronounce it?
nē
Did you know?
- Depending on the tone and length of the vowel, ねえ can shift from a friendly attention-getter to a whining expression of disagreement similar to 'no way'.
- The particle ね within ねえ is often used at the end of sentences in Japanese to seek agreement, meaning the word itself is built from a fundamental grammatical tool of connection.
- In many Japanese anime, characters use the repetitive ねえねえ to sound particularly cute or 'kawaii', often to manipulate or charm another character.
Examples in context
- ねえねえ、知ってる？Hey, you know what?Tatoeba #198639 by small_snow, translation #35832 by AlanF_US
- ねえ、元気がないみたいだけど。Hey, you seem a bit down.Tatoeba #198643 by bunbuku, translation #12812898 by CK
- ねえ、ちょっと！何やってるのよ？Hey, you! What are you doing?Tatoeba #10633355 by bunbuku, translation #65202 by CK
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Himari are sitting in a living room.
- 陽太 Yotaねえ、この本読んでみて。Nee, kono hon yonde mite.Hey, try reading this book.
- 陽葵 Himariいいよ。どんな話なの？Ii yo. Donna hanashi nano?Okay. What is it about?
- 陽太 Yotaすごく面白いミステリーだよ。Sugoku omoshiroi misuterii dayo.It is a very interesting mystery.
- 陽葵 Himariわかった。後で読むね。Wakatta. Ato de yomu ne.I got it. I will read it later.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ねえ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
