はい
hai[ha̠i]polite
In Japanese, 'yes' can be expressed as はい (hai), ええ or うん.
Meaning: word used to indicate agreement or acceptance (particle)
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 terms are used to indicate agreement or acceptance.
Which one should you use?
はい is the standard polite way to say yes. ええ is a more relaxed, conversational form that sounds softer than はい. うん is an informal and archaic way to express agreement.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
はい is a formal and polite way to say yes, making it suitable for use with strangers, superiors or in professional settings. ええ is an informal, conversational form. うん is an informal way to say yes.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
hai
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistake the use of はい as a simple 'yes' to a question.
Did you know?
- In some contexts, answering はい to a negative question like 'You don't like this, right?' actually confirms the negative state, meaning 'Yes, you are correct that I do not like it'.
- The informal 'yes' うん is thought to have originated as the onomatopoeic sound of a person grunting while exerting physical effort.
- While it now means 'yes', はい was first cited in the early 1600s as a general shout, similar to the English word 'hey'.
Examples in context
- ええ、喜んで。Yes, I'll be glad to.This sentence shows the use of 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 the use of はい to express willingness.Tatoeba #9994238 by small_snow, translation #2130380 by AlanF_US
- うん。欲しい！Yes, I want it!This sentence shows the use of うん to express desire.Tatoeba #11795631 by small_snow, translation #10743205 by ddnktr
- 193 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are talking at the office.
- 結衣 Yui陽太さん、この書類を読みましたか？Yota-san, kono shorui o yomimashita ka?Yota, did you read these documents?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、読みました。Hai, yomimashita.Yes, I did.
- 結衣 Yuiよかったです。準備はできましたか？Yokatta desu. Junbi wa dekimashita ka?That's good. Are you ready?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、大丈夫です。Hai, daijoubu desu.Yes, I am.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries はい, ええ, うん, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries うん, ええ, はい, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
