うん
uncasual
Casual "yes" in Japanese is うん (un). Men also say ああ (ā). いいよ (ii yo) means "sure" when agreeing to a request. It is also called そう (sō).
Meaning: casual affirmative answer (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| うん | un | casual |
| ああ | ā | casual, masculine |
| そう | sō | casual, that is so |
| いいよ | ii yo | casual, sure |
うん (un) is used with friends, family and people younger than you. そう (sō) confirms "that is so". With a teacher or a stranger, use はい (hai) instead.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using うん (un) with a boss or an older stranger can sound rude. In those cases はい (hai) is the safe answer.
Did you know?
- Listeners also say うん (un) while someone talks, to show that they are following.
Examples in context
- うん、いいよ。Un, ii yo.Yeah, sure.
- ああ、わかった。Ā, wakatta.Yeah, got it.
- そう、その通り。Sō, sono tōri.Yes, exactly.
Example conversation
Friends Mai and Rui make plans for the weekend.
- Mai土曜日、映画行く？Doyōbi, eiga iku?Going to a movie on Saturday?
- Ruiうん、行く！Un, iku!Yeah, I will go!
- Maiじゃあ決まり。Jā kimari.Then it is settled.
