うん
un/m̩/
The phrase ya is an informal Japanese way to say yes or express agreement.
While ya can represent agreement, it is also often used when listing items or examples as a substitute for the particle meaning "to" (and).
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is un. The IPA is /m̩/.
Did you know?
- The sound used in うん is actually an onomatopoeia for the guttural grunting noise humans make when they are exerting physical effort or straining.
- In Japanese, a short うん can mean 'yes', but a long うーん usually means 'hmm' and indicates hesitation or a 'no' in disguise.
- Japanese speakers often use うん as a form of 'backchanneling' or 'aizuchi', repeating it frequently just to show they are listening, not necessarily to agree.
Examples in context
- うん、わかった。un, wakatta.Yeah, I got it.
- うん、行くよ。un, iku yo.Yeah, I'm going.
- うん、大丈夫。un, daijoubu.Yeah, it's okay.
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding whether to go to a cafe.
- 陽太 Yotaカフェに行く？kafe ni iku?Are you going to the cafe?
- 美咲 Misakiうん、行こう！un, ikou!Yeah, let's go!
- 陽太 Yota美咲、準備はいい？misaki, junbi wa ii?Misaki, are you ready?
- 美咲 Misakiうん、大丈夫だよ。un, daijoubu da yo.Yeah, I'm ready.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry うん, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries うん, CC BY-SA 4.0.
