Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| いいえ | iie | [iːe̞] (narrow) | polite |
| いえ | ie | polite | |
| ううん | u'un | [m̩ː˦˨˦] (narrow) [ɯ̟̃ᵝː˦˨˦] (narrow) |
informal |
| 違う | chigau | [t͡ɕiɡa̠ɯ̟] (narrow) [ta̠ɡa̠ɯ̟] (narrow) |
|
| いや | iya | [ija̠] (narrow) |
Japanese uses different words for 'no' depending on the context. Some words function as direct negations of a question, while others are used to express that something is incorrect or that a certain action is not allowed. You might also use specific words to express that you do not want to do something or that a task is impossible.
Which one should you use?
While いいえ is a direct negation of a question, 違う is used to correct a factual error or state that something is incorrect. The word いや is often used as a conversational filler or a soft interjection to start a sentence when disagreeing or hesitating. For expressing that something is 'not allowed', the word だめ is used, whereas むり can be used informally to express that something is impossible or beyond one's capabilities.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The standard polite way to say 'no' in formal or semi-formal settings is いいえ or its variant いえ. For friends and family, the standard informal way to say 'no' is ううん. The word いや translates to 'don't want to' or 'don't like' and is used in informal contexts. The word だめ is an informal word meaning 'no' or 'not allowed'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Do not confuse the interjection いいえ (no) with the verb/adjective ない (not present/does not exist). Other related forms include 無い, ない and ありません to mean 'not any' and しない or ません to serve as a negating expression.
How do you pronounce it?
iie
When do people say it?
ちょっと can be used to politely refuse or ask for time to think.
Did you know?
- In some contexts, a Japanese person might say はい which means 'yes' but use it to mean 'no' because they are agreeing that your statement is correct, even if the answer is negative.
- The word 違う literally translates to 'to cross roads' or 'to intersect paths'. It evolved from the idea of two paths crossing, which came to mean that a statement is 'wrong' or 'off the mark'.
- A person might nod their head while saying いいえ if they are agreeing with the negative premise of a question, which can confuse English speakers.
Examples in context
- いや、全然。No, not at all.This example shows how to use いや as a soft interjection.Tatoeba #1838410 by small_snow, translation #880484 by CK
- 違うってば。I said no.This example demonstrates using 違う to express a correction.Tatoeba #3488053 by arnab, translation #2405884 by CK
- いえ、結構です。No, thank you.This example shows a polite way to use いえ for a refusal.Tatoeba #229316 by bunbuku, translation #31390 by CK
- 申し訳ありませんが、今は忙しいのでお断りします。I'm sorry, but I am busy right now, so I have to decline.
- ごめん、今は他の予定があって無理だな。Sorry, I have other plans now, so it's impossible for me.
- 232 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a cafe, Misaki asks Hiroto if he wants more tea.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔さん、お茶のおかわりはいかがですか？Hiroto-san, ochā no okawari wa ikaga desu ka?Hiroto, would you like some more tea?
- 大翔 Hirotoいいえ、結構です。Iie, kekkō desu.No, thank you.
- 美咲 Misakiそうですか。では、お下げしますね。Sō desu ka. Dewa, osage shimasu ne.I see. Then, I will take it away.
- 大翔 Hirotoありがとうございます。Arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no” translations and entries いいえ, いえ, ううん, 違う, いや, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries いいえ, いえ, 違う, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
