How to Say “Mhm” in Japanese

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うん
un/m̩/
The Japanese way to say "mhm" is うん (un).
うん is an informal sound used to show agreement or to let the speaker know you are listening. Other informal ways to express agreement or acknowledgement include そうだね or the phrase そうそう, which is used to confirm what the other person has said.

Which one should you use?

While うん is an informal way to say "mhm" or "yeah," the standard polite form used to express agreement or acknowledgment is はい.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

うん is an informal particle used primarily with friends, family or people of lower social status. In formal settings, you should use ええ to mean "yes" or "mhm," or use そうですね to say "That's right" or "I agree."

How do you pronounce it?

un (/m̩/)

Did you know?

  • The sound うん actually originates from the onomatopoeic noise people make when straining or exerting physical effort.
  • In Japanese communication, these sounds are called aizuchi. Unlike English 'mhm', which is often a response, aizuchi is a constant rhythmic accompaniment to the speaker's words.
  • A subtle shift in the pitch of うん can change the meaning from a casual 'yes' to a questioning 'huh?' or 'what?', depending on the intonation.

Examples in context

  • 「おはようございます。今日は遅かったですね」「うん。ちょっと手間取っちゃって」
    "Good morning. You were a bit late today." "Mhm, I got a tad delayed."
    This example shows how to use うん in a casual conversation.
    Tatoeba #75540 by wakatyann630, translation #1665448 by yonaka_mousou
  • うん、いいね。
    Mhm, sounds good.
  • 「明日は映画に行く？」「うん、行こう！」
    「Ashita wa eiga ni iku?」 "Un, ikou!"
    “Are you going to the movies tomorrow?” “Yeah, let's go!”
  • 「あ、そうなんだ」「うん、そうなの」
    「A, sou nanda" "Un, sou nano"
    “Oh, I see.” "Yeah, that's right."

Example conversation

陽太 and 美咲 are chatting about their plans for the weekend.

  1. 陽太 Yota

    「今週末、暇かな？」
    「Konshuumatsu, hima kana?"
    Are you free this weekend?
  2. 美咲 Misaki

    「うん、特に予定はないよ」
    "Un, toku ni yotei wa nai yo"
    Yeah, I don't have any plans in particular.
  3. 陽太 Yota

    「じゃあ、一緒に買い物に行かない？」
    「Jaa, issho ni kaimono ni ikanai?"
    Then, do you want to go shopping together?
  4. 美咲 Misaki

    「うん、いいね！」
    "Un, ii ne!"
    Yeah, sounds good!

Sources

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Peter Christopher
Peter ChristopherHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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