うん
un/m̩/
The Japanese way to say "yes casually" is うん (un).
うん is used primarily in affirmative responses to questions in casual settings. You might also use そう among friends to show affirmation or understanding, which can mean "yeah" or "that's right".
Which one should you use?
うん is the casual counterpart to the polite form はい.
How do you pronounce it?
un
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers should avoid using うん when speaking to superiors, teachers or strangers, as it can sound rude or overly familiar.
Did you know?
- The origin of うん is actually an onomatopoeic grunt, similar to the sound someone makes when straining or exerting physical effort.
- While うん is a casual 'yes', the word うーん with a prolonged sound is used to express hesitation, doubt or a 'hmm' sound in English.
- Using うん to answer a negative question can be counterintuitive for English speakers, as it might mean 'yes' to the fact that a negative state exists.
Examples in context
- うん、そうだよ。un, sou da yo.Yeah, that's right.
- うん、わかった。un, wakatta.Yeah, I got it.
- うん、大丈夫。un, daijoubu.Yeah, I'm okay.
Example conversation
Kenta asks Yui if she wants to go to the movies.
- 健太 Kenta結衣、映画に行く？Yui, eiga ni iku?Yui, do you want to go to the movies?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、行きたい！un, ikitai!Yeah, I want to go!
- 健太 Kentaじゃあ、駅で待ち合わせね。jaa, eki de machiawase ne.Then, let's meet at the station.
- 結衣 Yuiうん、了解。un, ryoukai.Yeah, Roger that.
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.
