Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| はい? | hai? | polite |
| 何? | nani? | |
| え? | e? |
These interjections are used when you have not heard or understood what someone has said and are asking them to repeat themselves. Note that はい? also functions as the standard way to say 'Yes?' when acknowledging that someone has called your name. If you are looking for the noun meaning 'pardon' in the sense of forgiveness for an offence, use 許し. For legal terms regarding a releasing order, use 赦免, 恩赦 or 勘弁.
Which one should you use?
はい? is the polite way to say 'Pardon?' or 'Excuse me?' when you didn't hear someone. In contrast, 何? is a direct way to say 'What?' and is generally considered blunt or even aggressive depending on the tone. Similarly, え? is a very informal, almost blunt way to say 'Huh?' or 'What?' and can sound rude in formal settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
はい? is the polite form. 何? and え? are informal. If you need to apologize or seek forgiveness rather than asking for repetition, use the formal ごめんなさい or the colloquial ごめん. For a small or unintentional breach of etiquette, use the formal 失礼しました.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
hai?
When do people say it?
If you are looking to say 'pardon' or 'excuse me' in a general sense, すみません is a very common expression.
Did you know?
- While 'pardon' in English often implies seeking forgiveness, the common Japanese request for repetition, はい?, is actually derived from the word for 'yes'.
- The interjection え? is often used not because the speaker didn't hear the words, but because the information they heard is shocking or unbelievable.
- In very formal Japanese, simply saying はい? is sometimes considered too casual, and speakers may use はい, もう一度お願いします to be truly polite.
Examples in context
- はい?Hai?Pardon?
- すみません、はい?Sumimasen, hai?Excuse me, pardon?
- えっ、はい?E, hai?Eh, pardon?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pardon” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
