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 |
The Japanese words for 'yes' are used to indicate agreement, acceptance or to confirm that you are paying attention to a speaker. For example, はい serves as a verbal cue to signal that you are listening. If you wish to emphasize agreement more strongly in a polite way, you can use the phrase はい、そうです, which means 'that's right'.
Which one should you use?
はい is the standard, polite way to say yes and is appropriate for formal settings or when speaking to superiors. ええ is a more casual, conversational form that sounds softer than はい. うん is the casual, blunt version of yes used primarily with friends and family. For acknowledging agreement casually among peers, the phrase そうだね is often used.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
はい is the most basic and commonly used form and is polite. ええ is more colloquial and conversational. うん is informal and is also considered archaic.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
hai
Did you know?
- While はい means 'yes', it is common for Japanese speakers to answer 'yes' to a negative question, such as saying はい to 'You don't like this?' to mean 'Yes, you are correct that I don't like it'.
- The casual 'yes', うん, is thought to be an onomatopoeia for the grunting sound someone makes when straining or exerting themselves.
- The affirmative meaning of はい is relatively modern, first cited in the 1770s, whereas it was previously used as a general shout similar to the English 'hey'.
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 willingness.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
Youta is confirming a task with Yui in an office.
- 陽太 Yota陽太：この書類、確認してもらえますか？Kono shorui, kakunin shite moraemasu ka?Could you check these documents?
- 結衣 Yui結衣：はい、わかりました。Hai, wakarimashita.Yes, I understand.
- 陽太 Yota陽太：明日までにできますか？Ashita made ni dekimasu ka?Can you do it by tomorrow?
- 結衣 Yui結衣：はい、大丈夫です。Hai, daijoubu desu.Yes, that is fine.
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.
