How to say yes in Japanese: the different ways

Saying “yes” in Japanese seems simple at first glance. However, limiting oneself to the famous Hai restricts communication and lacks naturalness. The Japanese language relies heavily on context and level of formality. Using the right word to affirm something radically changes how a native speaker will perceive their conversation partner.

The universal classic: Hai (はい)

The word everyone knows is obviously はい (hai). It’s the standard term for expressing affirmation. It works in almost all formal and polite situations. At work, at school, or with strangers, it’s the safe choice.

However, はい (hai) doesn’t only mean “yes”. It has a very strong social function. When a teacher takes attendance in class, students respond はい (hai). Here, it means “present”. Similarly, on the telephone, it’s common to hear someone repeat はい (hai) at regular intervals whilst the other person is speaking. In this specific case, it doesn’t indicate agreement, but simply that they’re listening. It translates to “I hear you” or “I’m here”.

The writing is almost always done in hiragana. The kanji exists (拝), but its usage remains extremely rare and archaic in daily life. Stick to hiragana.

Be careful with pronunciation: the “h” is aspirated, like in English “hi”, and the “ai” is pronounced “eye”. A clear and short pronunciation shows dynamism and attention.

The casual version: Un (うん)

Using a crisp Hai during an evening with friends or with family will create a strange distance. In an informal setting, Japanese uses うん (un). This corresponds to the French “ouais” or “mh-mh”, but without the impolite connotation it might have for us.

The pronunciation requires a bit of practice. The mouth remains almost closed. The sound resembles a brief nasal grunt. The descending intonation indicates affirmation.

Look at the difference in context. If a boss asks whether a file is ready, one responds はい (hai). On the other hand, if a friend asks if we’re going to eat ramen, we respond うん (un).

Mastering these language levels is the foundation of Japanese politeness. Mixing the two registers can appear either arrogant or too distant.

Confirming information: Sou desu (そうです)

Sometimes, simply answering “yes” isn’t enough. When you need to confirm the accuracy of information or identification, the expression そうです (sou desu) is more appropriate. It literally translates to “it is so” or “that’s right”.

Imagine someone asks フランス人ですか (Furansujin desu ka?): Are you French? Simply answering Hai is correct, but answering はい、そうです (Hai, sou desu) is much more natural. It confirms the status.

In casual language, “desu” is dropped. One simply says そう (sou) or even そうそう (sou sou) repeated quickly to show enthusiastic agreement, like “that’s exactly right!”

There are common variants. そうです (Sou desu) means “That’s right” in a polite register. そうですね (Sou desu ne) means “That’s true, isn’t it” or “I agree”. そうか (Sou ka) expresses “Oh really?” or “I see” informally.

The “Echo” method: Repeating the verb

Here’s the secret to sounding truly Japanese. Often, the word for “yes” isn’t used at all. Instead, the verb from the question is repeated. It’s a precise and clear way of answering that avoids any ambiguity.

Let’s take a concrete example with the verb to eat, 食べる (taberu). If someone asks 寿司を食べますか (Sushi o tabemasu ka?): Do you eat sushi? One responds 食べます (Tabemasu): I eat.

In English, it would seem robotic to answer “I eat” instead of “Yes”. In Japanese, it’s the norm. This works with all verbs and adjectives.

Another example with お元気ですか (Ogenki desu ka?): Are you well? The natural response is 元気です (Genki desu): I am well.

This technique shows good listening to the question asked. It’s also an excellent exercise for memorising vocabulary and conjugation.

Accepting a request or offer: Onegaishimasu (お願いします)

If someone offers a service or offers something, answering Hai is a bit curt. To say “yes, please”, the essential expression is お願いします (onegaishimasu).

Let’s take a concrete situation: a waiter asks if you want water. The appropriate response is はい、お願いします (Hai, onegaishimasu).

It’s a magic formula that softens the interaction. It’s indispensable for accepting a favour. Moreover, once the service is rendered, don’t forget to say thank you in Japanese to properly close the exchange.

Saying “I understand”: Wakarimashita (分かりました)

In a professional environment or when receiving instructions, a simple “yes” isn’t enough to reassure the speaker about proper understanding of the message. You must use specific verbs indicating comprehension.

The most common expression is 分かりました (wakarimashita), which means “I understood”.

Simple example: a teacher says “Do this exercise for tomorrow.” The student responds “Wakarimashita.”

To go further in formality, particularly with a client or a highly respected superior, several variants can be used. 了解です (Ryōkai desu) means “Roger” or “Understood” and is often used between colleagues or on the radio. 承知しました (Shōchi shimashita) expresses “I have acknowledged” in a very formal register, typical of the business world. かしこまりました (Kashikomarimashita) means “Certainly” or “At your service” and remains typical of waiters and hotel staff.

Using Kashikomarimashita with friends will certainly provoke laughter, as it places you in the position of a servant.

The trap of negative questions

This is a point that often confuses French speakers. The Japanese logic for answering a negative question is the opposite of French logic.

In English, if someone asks: “Aren’t you coming?”, and you’re not coming, you answer “No”. In Japanese, you respond to the truth of the statement, not the fact.

Look carefully at this example. Someone asks 明日来ませんか (Ashita kimasen ka?): Aren’t you coming tomorrow? The Japanese response is はい、来ません (Hai, kimasen).

Literally, this translates to: “Yes (what you say is true), I’m not coming.”

If one answered いいえ (iie – no), it would mean: “No (what you say is false), I am coming.”

Another example: 嫌いじゃないですか (Kirai janai desu ka?): Don’t you dislike it? The answer はい (Hai) means: Yes (it’s true, I don’t dislike it = I rather like it).

It requires mental gymnastics at first. To avoid misunderstandings, the “Echo” method seen above (repeating the verb) is the safest solution.

Enthusiastic agreement: Mochiron (もちろん)

To express a strong “yes”, like “of course” or “obviously”, the word is もちろん (mochiron). It’s often written in hiragana or kanji (勿論).

It’s perfect for showing motivation or reassuring someone about permission. If someone asks “May I borrow this pen?”, one can respond もちろん (Mochiron): Of course!

You can also use いいですよ (Ii desu yo). Be careful with Ii desu, however. Depending on intonation and hand gesture, Ii desu can mean “It’s good (yes)” or “It’s fine (no thank you, I’m alright)”. Adding the particle “yo” at the end (Ii desu yo) often removes doubt and indicates permission.

The art of Aizuchi (相槌)

Japanese people don’t tolerate complete silence during conversation. To show they’re active in the exchange, they use little words or sounds called Aizuchi.

The most frequent are as follows. ええ (Ee) is a polite “yes”, softer than Hai. Very common among women or in calm conversations. なるほど (Naruhodo) means “I see” or “So that’s it” and indicates understanding of a new concept. 本当に (Hontou ni?) means “Really?”.

These sounds shouldn’t be confused with contractual agreement. A Japanese person might say Hai or nod ten times during a meeting. This means “I’m following your reasoning”, not “I’m signing the contract”. It’s a cultural nuance that’s the source of many misunderstandings in the business world.

Summary table of nuances

Here’s a summary for choosing the right word at the right time.

Japanese word	Level of politeness	Main meaning
はい (Hai)	Polite / Standard	Yes / Present / I’m listening
うん (Un)	Familiar	Yeah / Mh-mh
そうです (Sou desu)	Polite	That’s correct / That’s right
分かりました (Wakarimashita)	Polite	I understood / Roger
もちろん (Mochiron)	Neutral	Of course / Obviously
ええ (Ee)	Polite (soft)	Yes (conversational)

Knowing how to say “yes” in Japanese requires observing your surroundings. Listen to how natives respond to their superiors compared to their friends. The key lies in imitation. Start with Hai and Sou desu to remain polite, then incorporate verb repetition to gain fluency.