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) |
In Japanese, different words are used to express negation or disagreement. The basic form いいえ is used to show negation. Other forms like いや function as soft negations or conversational fillers at the beginning of a sentence, similar to 'well…' or 'no, but…' in English.
Which one should you use?
While いいえ is used to mean 'no' in response to a yes/no question, 違う is used to mean 'that is incorrect' or 'that is not the case'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
いいえ and いえ are polite forms suitable for formal or semi-formal settings. ううん is the informal, casual equivalent used among friends or family. いや is a colloquial form often used as a conversational filler. To soften a refusal, you can use phrases like わかりますが (I understand, but…) or 惜しいですが (It's a pity, but…). In formal situations, you can start a refusal with an apology using 申し訳ありませんが or use the even more polite and sincere version 大変申し訳ございませんが when declining a request.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
iie
When do people say it?
In informal settings, you might use ごめんなさい to say 'I'm sorry' or 'I'm afraid not'.
Did you know?
- The polite negation いいえ is frequently used when receiving a compliment to show modesty. In this case, it does not mean the compliment is false, but functions as 'not at all' or 'you are too kind'.
- The word 違う literally translates to 'the paths cross' or 'the roads diverge'.
- While いいえ is the standard translation for 'no', Japanese speakers often avoid it in social situations to maintain harmony. They may instead use a hesitant 'yes' or a vague phrase to imply a 'no' without saying the word.
Examples in context
- いや、全然。No, not at all.This sentence shows the use of いや as a negation.Tatoeba #1838410 by small_snow, translation #880484 by CK
- 違うってば。I said no.This sentence shows how to use 違う.Tatoeba #3488053 by arnab, translation #2405884 by CK
- いえ、結構です。No, thank you.This sentence shows the polite use of いえ to decline something.Tatoeba #229316 by bunbuku, translation #31390 by CK
- 申し訳ありませんが、それはできませんI'm sorry, but I can't do that.
- ちょっと、忙しいんですSorry, I'm a bit busy.
- すみません、ちょっと手伝ってもらえますか？
申し訳ありませんが、今は忙しいんですExcuse me, could you help me for a moment?
I'm sorry, but I'm busy right now. - 明日一緒に買い物に行きませんか？
ごめんなさい、急用が入ってしまったんですShall we go shopping together tomorrow?
I'm sorry, but something urgent came up. - 232 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A woman is being asked if she is a teacher.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲さんは先生ですか？Misaki-san wa sensei desu ka?Are you a teacher, Misaki?
- 美咲 Misakiいいえ、違います。Iie, chigaimasu.No, I am not.
- 大翔 Hirotoあ、失礼しました。A, shitsurei shimashita.Ah, excuse me.
- 美咲 Misaki大丈夫ですよ。Daijoubu desu yo.That is okay.
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.
