うん
un/m̩/
In Japanese, the English phrase 'yeah' can be expressed in several ways, with うん (un) being the default form. Wiktionary also lists そう (sō) and ええ (ē).
Meaning: yes (particle)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| うん | un | /m̩/ |
| そう | sō | [so̞ː] (narrow) |
| ええ | ē | [e̞ː] (narrow) |
| ああ | ā | [a̠ː] (narrow) |
Which one should you use?
うん and ええ are direct affirmative particles. そう is used specifically to agree with a statement or confirm that something is as described. ああ is an informal, somewhat blunt way to say 'yeah' or 'I see', often used when realizing or acknowledging something.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
うん is the most common informal way to say 'yeah' among friends and family. ええ is a more polite and soft version of 'yeah' compared to うん, often used in standard conversation. ああ is an informal way to say "yeah" or "uh-huh". Avoid using うん with superiors or teachers, as it is strictly informal and can sound rude in professional settings.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization for うん is un and is pronounced /m̩/.
Did you know?
- In Japanese conversation, these affirmative particles are often used as 'backchanneling' to show the speaker you are listening, rather than to actually agree with the content.
- The informal 'yeah', うん, is actually an onomatopoeia representing the grunting sound someone makes when straining or putting in physical effort.
- The word そう likely evolved from the Muromachi period and may have shifted from 様 (sama) or 相 (sō).
Examples in context
- ええ、いいですよ。Yeah, sure.This sentence is useful for practicing the polite version ええ.Tatoeba #10914856 by small_snow, translation #10914863 by CK
- うん、いい考えがある。Yeah, I have a good idea.This sentence uses the informal うん to express agreement.Tatoeba #228066 by small_snow, translation #13265229 by CK
- うん。私もそう思うよ。Yeah. I think so, too.This sentence shows how うん can be used to agree with a thought.Tatoeba #10060082 by small_snow, translation #65359 by CK
- 85 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing what to eat for lunch.
- 大翔 Hirotoお腹空いたね。ラーメン食べに行かない？Onaka suita ne. Rāmen tabe ni ikanai?I'm hungry. Want to go eat ramen?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、いい考えだね！Un, ii kangae da ne!Yeah, that's a great idea!
- 大翔 Hiroto駅前の店でいいかな？Ekimae no mise de ii kana?Is the shop in front of the station okay?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、そこにしよう。Un, soko ni shiyō.Yeah, let's go there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yeah” translations and entries うん, そう, ええ, ああ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ああ, うん, ええ, そう, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
