Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| はい | hai | [ha̠i] (narrow) | polite |
| ええ | ē | [e̞ː] (narrow) | |
| うん | un | /m̩/ | informal |
These words are used to indicate agreement or acceptance. The form はい can also be used as a response to confirm that you are paying attention to a speaker, functioning similarly to 'I see' or 'present' in English. For expressing pleasure, joy or excitement, related terms like よし or やった are used instead.
Which one should you use?
はい is the standard polite form suitable for use with strangers or superiors. ええ is a more relaxed, colloquial way to say yes, often used to show agreement during a flowing conversation. うん is an informal version, similar to 'yeah'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
はい is the standard polite way to respond affirmatively in most situations. ええ is a more conversational, relaxed option. うん is informal and carries an archaic tag. In the Kansai region, the casual form そやな is often used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, people often use そやな as a casual way to say yes.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
hai
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using うん with teachers, bosses or strangers, as it can sound rude or overly familiar.
Did you know?
- A Japanese speaker might say はい to a question they actually intend to answer with 'no', simply to acknowledge that they heard the question.
- The casual word うん is actually an onomatopoeic sound derived from the grunting noise people make when straining themselves during physical effort.
- In Japanese culture, silence or a hesitant ええ… is often used as a polite, indirect way to signal a 'no' without saying the word explicitly.
Examples in context
- ええ、喜んで。Yes, I'll be glad to.This sentence shows how to use ええ to express willingness.Tatoeba #228005 by small_snow, translation #13086546 by terrywallwork
- はい。喜んで。Yes, with pleasure.This sentence shows how to use はい to express pleasure.Tatoeba #9994238 by small_snow, translation #2130380 by AlanF_US
- うん。欲しい！Yes, I want it!This sentence shows how to use うん to express desire.Tatoeba #11795631 by small_snow, translation #10743205 by ddnktr
- 193 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren is asking Misaki if she has finished her homework.
- 蓮 Ren宿題は終わりましたか？Shukudai wa owarimashita ka?Did you finish your homework?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、終わりました。Hai, owarimashita.Yes, I finished it.
- 蓮 Renいいですね。一緒に遊びましょう。Ii desu ne. Issho ni asobimashou.That's good. Let's hang out together.
- 美咲 Misakiはい、行きましょう！Hai, ikimashou!Yes, let's go!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries はい, ええ, うん, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
