[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-article-local-yes-in-japanese":3,"$fHZsWYl_LcdVZ5GxKwtR-ZqvCZbbUdo2_Fi6R_GQKiQM":677,"blog-article-cms-yes-in-japanese":679,"article-hreflang-yes-in-japanese":680,"blog-article-related-yes-in-japanese":1104},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":654,"extension":655,"meta":656,"navigation":670,"path":671,"rawbody":672,"seo":673,"stem":674,"__hash__":675,"timestampUnix":657,"slug":658,"h1":659,"image":660,"tags":666,"timestamp":676,"locale":-1},"content\u002Farticle\u002Fjapanese\u002Fjapanese-yes.md","Japanese Basics: How To Say \"Yes\" in Japanese",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":631},"minimark",[9,19,22,25,28,33,79,88,93,111,115,118,121,132,136,142,145,168,178,180,184,263,267,274,277,281,288,326,335,339,352,356,363,365,369,440,444,453,475,488,496,501,508,526,530,536,539,548,550,554,557,560,567,570,585,588,592,594,598,605,616,619,628],[10,11,12,13,18],"p",{},"\"Yes\" is one of the first things you'll learn in any language, so it's naturally a solid first step if you're looking to ",[14,15,17],"a",{"href":16},"\u002Flearn-japanese","learn Japanese",".",[10,20,21],{},"No big intro here. We're going to cover several of the most common ways to say yes, have a jolly good time, and be on our way.",[23,24],"toc",{},[26,27],"hr",{},[29,30,32],"h2",{"id":31},"はい-hai-the-simplest-way-to-say-yes","はい (hai), the simplest way to say yes",[34,35,36,56],"table",{},[37,38,39],"thead",{},[40,41,42,47,50,53],"tr",{},[43,44,46],"th",{"align":45},"center","Expression",[43,48,49],{"align":45},"English Meaning",[43,51,52],{"align":45},"Romaji",[43,54,55],{"align":45},"Direct or Indirect",[57,58,59],"tbody",{},[40,60,61,70,73,76],{},[62,63,64,65],"td",{"align":45},"はい ",[66,67],"custom-audio",{"src":68,":type":69},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_はい.mp3","0",[62,71,72],{"align":45},"Yes",[62,74,75],{"align":45},"hai",[62,77,78],{"align":45},"Direct",[10,80,81,82,87],{},"The most straightforward and common way to say \"yes\" in Japanese is ",[83,84],"typo",{"lang":85,"syntax":86},"ja","はい[;a]"," (hai). It can be used in almost any situation, whether formal or informal. You can use はい when you're answering a question, agreeing to a statement, or simply as a verbal acknowledgement that you're listening to someone. You can't really go wrong with はい: it's a versatile and polite response.",[89,90,92],"h3",{"id":91},"how-do-you-write-yes-in-japanese","How do you write \"yes\" in Japanese?",[10,94,95,96,100,101,105,106,110],{},"Japanese juggles ",[14,97,99],{"href":98},"\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fthe-japanese-alphabets","three alphabets at once",": the ",[14,102,104],{"href":103},"\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fthe-japanese-language-hiragana","hiragana",", ",[14,107,109],{"href":108},"\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fthe-japanese-language-katakana","katakana",", and kanji (Chinese characters). Thankfully, はい is pretty straightforward: it consists of two hiragana characters, shown below:",[112,113],"mnemonic",{"code":114},"hiragana:ha",[116,117],"br",{},[112,119],{"code":120},"hiragana:i",[10,122,123,124,127,128,131],{},"If you're new to Japanese, you can recognize that these are hiragana characters because they are so curvy. Katakana (",[83,125],{"lang":85,"syntax":126},"カタカナ[;n2]",") are much more angular, and kanji (",[83,129],{"lang":85,"syntax":130},"漢字[かんじ;h]",") are much more complex and blocky.",[89,133,135],{"id":134},"how-to-say-yes-in-japanese","How to say yes in Japanese",[10,137,138,139,141],{},"If you don't care too much about pronunciation, it's enough to know that ",[83,140],{"lang":85,"syntax":86}," sounds pretty close to English's \"hi\". When you want to say yes in Japanese, just say \"hi\" and Japanese people will understand you.",[10,143,144],{},"If you want to pronounce it more accurately, here are a few little details to help you sound more natural:",[146,147,148,156,162],"ol",{},[149,150,151,155],"li",{},[152,153,154],"strong",{},"The \"ahh\" vowel"," — The \"i\" in English's \"hi\" is actually a diphthong, meaning that two vowels are smooshed together. If you stand in front of a mirror and say \"hi\" slowly, you'll be able to see when you transition from the \u002Fa\u002F sound to the \u002Fi\u002F sound. Practice isolating these two sounds a little bit.",[149,157,158,161],{},[152,159,160],{},"Rhythm"," — Whereas we often blend letters together in English, Japanese speakers give each syllable of a word an equal \"beat\" of time. When you speak Japanese, instead of mushing the \"ai\" vowel together like we do in English, make a very crisp transition from \"ha\" to \"ee\".",[149,163,164,167],{},[152,165,166],{},"Pitch accent"," — This word has an \"atamadaka\" pitch pattern, meaning that the first syllable (\"ha\") is higher in pitch and the second syllable (\"ee\") is lower in pitch.",[10,169,170,171,173,174,177],{},"Listen to the recording of ",[83,172],{"lang":85,"syntax":86}," ",[66,175],{"src":68,":type":176},"3"," a few more times, each time doing your best to focus on one of the above points. The first step to improving your accent in a foreign language is simply learning to listen!",[26,179],{},[29,181,183],{"id":182},"four-more-casual-ways-to-say-yes","Four more casual ways to say yes",[34,185,186,198],{},[37,187,188],{},[40,189,190,192,194,196],{},[43,191,46],{"align":45},[43,193,49],{"align":45},[43,195,52],{"align":45},[43,197,55],{"align":45},[57,199,200,216,232,247],{},[40,201,202,208,211,214],{},[62,203,204,205],{"align":45},"うん ",[66,206],{"src":207,":type":69},"\u002Fassets\u002F\u002Fblog\u002Fja_うん.mp3",[62,209,210],{"align":45},"mhm\u002Fuh-huh",[62,212,213],{"align":45},"un",[62,215,78],{"align":45},[40,217,218,224,227,230],{},[62,219,220,221],{"align":45},"そう ",[66,222],{"src":223,":type":69},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_そう.mp3",[62,225,226],{"align":45},"That’s right",[62,228,229],{"align":45},"sou",[62,231,78],{"align":45},[40,233,234,240,242,245],{},[62,235,236,237],{"align":45},"ええ ",[66,238],{"src":239,":type":69},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_ええ.mp3",[62,241,72],{"align":45},[62,243,244],{"align":45},"ee",[62,246,78],{"align":45},[40,248,249,255,258,261],{},[62,250,251,252],{"align":45},"もちろん ",[66,253],{"src":254,":type":69},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_もちろん.mp3",[62,256,257],{"align":45},"Of course",[62,259,260],{"align":45},"mochiron",[62,262,78],{"align":45},[89,264,266],{"id":265},"うん-un-the-japanese-mmhmm","うん (un), the Japanese mmhmm",[10,268,269,270,273],{},"Next, ",[83,271],{"lang":85,"syntax":272},"うん[;a]"," is an informal and colloquial way to say \"yes.\" It's similar in meaning to はい, but is used in casual conversations, especially among close friends or family members.",[10,275,276],{},"This is a great word to know, and so long as you avoid using it in the workplace or with strangers, you should be fine!",[89,278,280],{"id":279},"そう-sou-thats-right","そう (sou), \"that's right\"",[10,282,283,284,287],{},"When you want to confirm that something is correct or that you agree with what someone else has said, say ",[83,285],{"lang":85,"syntax":286},"そう[;a]",". This nuance in mind, it's often employed in response to statements, but not in response to direct questions.",[10,289,290,291,294,295,298,299,302,303,306,307,309,310,312,313,315,316,322,323,325],{},"You may also hear ",[83,292],{"lang":85,"syntax":293},"そう[;h,a] です[;a]"," (sou desu) ",[66,296],{"src":297,":type":176},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_そうです.mp3"," and ",[83,300],{"lang":85,"syntax":301},"そうですね[;a]"," (sou desu ne) ",[66,304],{"src":305,":type":176},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_そうですね.mp3"," . Both of these words mean pretty much the same thing as ",[83,308],{"lang":85,"syntax":286},", but their nuance is slightly different. The addition of です makes ",[83,311],{"lang":85,"syntax":293}," more polite than ",[83,314],{"lang":85,"syntax":286},", and the ",[14,317,321],{"href":318,"rel":319},"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FSentence-final_particle#:~:text=%E3%81%AD%20ne%3A%20agreement.",[320],"nofollow","sentence-ending particle ね"," in ",[83,324],{"lang":85,"syntax":301}," just adds a stronger feeling of agreement.",[10,327,328],{},[329,330,331,332,334],"em",{},"Note: ",[83,333],{"lang":85,"syntax":286}," appears in several grammar points, so you might sometimes see it in the middle of a sentence or somewhere you don't expect.",[89,336,338],{"id":337},"ええ-ehh-a-more-casual-yes","ええ (ehh), a more casual yes",[10,340,341,342,345,346,348,349,351],{},"Perhaps the easiest one on the list, ",[83,343],{"lang":85,"syntax":344},"ええ[;a]"," is slightly less formal than ",[83,347],{"lang":85,"syntax":86}," and is often used in casual conversations. ",[83,350],{"lang":85,"syntax":344}," conveys a relaxed and agreeable tone, making it suitable to use with friends, family, and in less formal settings.",[89,353,355],{"id":354},"もちろん-mochiron-certainly","もちろん (mochiron), \"certainly\"",[10,357,358,359,362],{},"Finally, ",[83,360],{"lang":85,"syntax":361},"もちろん[;n2]"," (mochiron) is used when you want to strongly affirm something, expressing that the answer is obvious or a given. It’s a confident and sometimes emphatic way to say \"yes\", akin to saying \"of course\" in English.",[26,364],{},[29,366,368],{"id":367},"three-more-nuanced-ways-to-say-yes","Three more nuanced ways to say yes",[34,370,371,383],{},[37,372,373],{},[40,374,375,377,379,381],{},[43,376,46],{},[43,378,49],{},[43,380,52],{},[43,382,55],{},[57,384,385,404,422],{},[40,386,387,395,398,401],{},[62,388,389,173,392],{},[83,390],{"lang":85,"syntax":391},"了解[りょうかい]",[66,393],{"src":394,":type":69},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_了解.mp3",[62,396,397],{},"I understand",[62,399,400],{},"ryoukai",[62,402,403],{},"Indirect",[40,405,406,414,417,420],{},[62,407,408,173,411],{},[83,409],{"lang":85,"syntax":410},"大丈夫[だいじょうぶ]",[66,412],{"src":413,":type":69},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_大丈夫.mp3",[62,415,416],{},"Alright",[62,418,419],{},"daijoubu",[62,421,403],{},[40,423,424,432,435,438],{},[62,425,426,173,429],{},[83,427],{"lang":85,"syntax":428},"構[かま,かまう]わない",[66,430],{"src":431,":type":69},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_構わない.mp3",[62,433,434],{},"I don't mind",[62,436,437],{},"kamawanai",[62,439,403],{},[89,441,443],{"id":442},"了解-ryoukai-a-more-professional-way-to-say-yes","了解 (ryoukai), a more professional way to say \"yes\"",[10,445,446,447,450,452],{},"The phrase ",[83,448],{"lang":85,"syntax":449},"了解[りょうかい;h]",[116,451],{},"\nis often used in professional or formal settings to indicate that you've understood a command, instruction, or request and will comply with it. It’s akin to saying \"Roger\" or \"understood\" in English, and it carries a sense of acknowledgment and agreement.",[10,454,455,456,459,460,463,464,467,468,471,472,474],{},"Given that this is a more formal expression, you can also expect to hear ",[83,457],{"lang":85,"syntax":458},"了解[りょうかい;h] です[;a]"," (ryoukai desu) ",[66,461],{"src":462,":type":176},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_了解です.mp3"," or ",[83,465],{"lang":85,"syntax":466},"了解[りょうかい;h] し[,する;h]ました"," (ryoukai shimashita) ",[66,469],{"src":470,":type":176},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_了解しました.mp3",", which mean the same thing as ",[83,473],{"lang":85,"syntax":449}," but are a little more polite, and are thus suitable for use with colleagues.",[10,476,477,478,481,482,485,486,18],{},"If you are talking with your boss or somebody much older than you, you can instead say ",[83,479],{"lang":85,"syntax":480},"畏[かしこ,かしこまる;k4]まりました"," (kashikomarimashita) ",[66,483],{"src":484,":type":176},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_かしこまりました.mp3",", which is an honorific phrase that means the same thing as ",[83,487],{"lang":85,"syntax":449},[89,489,491,492,495],{"id":490},"大丈夫-daijoubu-a-phrase-that-can-mean-yes-and-no","大丈夫 (daijoubu), a phrase that can mean yes ",[329,493,494],{},"and"," no",[10,497,498,500],{},[83,499],{"lang":85,"syntax":410}," is a versatile word that can be used to reassure someone or to indicate that something is acceptable.\n",[10,502,503,504,507],{},"This word literally means something like \"I'm fine\", so depending on the situation, it can actually mean yes ",[329,505,506],{},"or"," no.",[509,510,511,517],"ul",{},[149,512,513,516],{},[152,514,515],{},"When it means yes"," — when somebody asks if you're OK, if something is alright, or any sort of question asking how you feel",[149,518,519,522,523,525],{},[152,520,521],{},"When it means no"," — if somebody asks if you want something (such as dessert at a restaurant), saying this is literally saying \"I'm fine (as I am, without the dessert)\" ... so if you want that pie, be sure to say ",[83,524],{"lang":85,"syntax":86},"!",[89,527,529],{"id":528},"構わない-kamawanai-a-stiffermore-distant-confirmation","構わない (kamawanai), a stiffer\u002Fmore distant confirmation",[10,531,446,532,535],{},[83,533],{"lang":85,"syntax":534},"構[かま,かまう;k2]わない"," is used to express that something is okay or acceptable with you. It has a nuance of giving someone permission to do something, or telling them not to worry. Translating the word literally, you're saying that something of no concern to you or that you're indifferent to the result.",[10,537,538],{},"This is a normal expression and is perfectly OK to use when you want to express that something is OK or that you don't care — such as if someone asks if they can sit next to you on the train. \"Yeah that's fine \u002F I don't care.\"",[10,540,541,542,544,545,547],{},"Just like in English, though, you have to be careful with ",[83,543],{"lang":85,"syntax":534},". If you're in a rough situation with your partner and, upset, they ask if they should stay or go, and you say ",[83,546],{"lang":85,"syntax":534},"... well, that's going to hurt.",[26,549],{},[29,551,553],{"id":552},"a-beginners-course-that-will-bring-you-from-zero-to-netflix-in-six-months","A beginner's course that will bring you from zero to Netflix in six months",[10,555,556],{},"I'm assuming here, but if you're googling how to say yes in Japanese, you're probably thinking about learning Japanese.",[10,558,559],{},"It's convenient that you're here, because we've got what users pretty consistently praise as the best Japanese course on the market. It's a flashcard-based course, and you can see it below:",[561,562],"img",{"src":563,"width":564,"height":565,"alt":566},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fmigaku-japanese-academy-yes.jpeg",1642,1152,"A screenshot from Migaku's Japanese course, showing how we help users learn Japanese vocabulary and grammar",[10,568,569],{},"What makes our course special is unfortunately under the hood and thus not visible in this picture, but to be brief:",[146,571,572,575,582],{},[149,573,574],{},"We teach the specific 1,500 words you need to make sense of 80% of any Japanese sentence you encounter",[149,576,577,578],{},"You'll learn these words by learning practical sentences that include them—every sentence includes only one new word, and every flashcard is backed by ",[14,579,581],{"href":580},"\u002Fblog\u002Flanguage-fun\u002Fspaced-repetition-language-learning","spaced repetition",[149,583,584],{},"The sentences you learn were very carefully curated to expose you to around 300 common grammar points: if you learn the sentence, you'll also pick up the grammatical structure it contains",[10,586,587],{},"Oh, and that picture in the bottom right isn't a fluke. We literally hired a dude to stack our course with memes. It's great... and you can try it totally free for ten days:",[589,590],"prose-button",{"href":16,"text":591},"Learn Japanese with Migaku",[26,593],{},[29,595,597],{"id":596},"the-most-important-thing-to-remember-if-you-want-to-learn-japanese","The most important thing to remember if you want to learn Japanese",[10,599,600,601,18],{},"I started studying Japanese back in 2014, and I've been abroad pretty much ever since. I've met hundreds of people learning language in that time, and as time went on, ",[14,602,604],{"href":603},"\u002Fblog\u002Flanguage-fun\u002F3-things-to-learn-a-language","a pattern emerged",[10,606,607,608,611,612,615],{},"The most common reason people fail to learn Japanese is that they spend all their time learning ",[329,609,610],{},"about"," Japanese, instead of spending time ",[329,613,614],{},"in"," Japanese.",[10,617,618],{},"So, however you end up learning Japanese, if I could give you one piece of advice, it would be this:",[620,621,622],"blockquote",{},[10,623,624,625,18],{},"If you consume media you enjoy in Japanese, and you understand some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. ",[329,626,627],{},"Period",[10,629,630],{},"Good luck, friend 💪",{"title":632,"searchDepth":633,"depth":633,"links":634},"",2,[635,640,646,652,653],{"id":31,"depth":633,"text":32,"children":636},[637,639],{"id":91,"depth":638,"text":92},3,{"id":134,"depth":638,"text":135},{"id":182,"depth":633,"text":183,"children":641},[642,643,644,645],{"id":265,"depth":638,"text":266},{"id":279,"depth":638,"text":280},{"id":337,"depth":638,"text":338},{"id":354,"depth":638,"text":355},{"id":367,"depth":633,"text":368,"children":647},[648,649,651],{"id":442,"depth":638,"text":443},{"id":490,"depth":638,"text":650},"大丈夫 (daijoubu), a phrase that can mean yes and no",{"id":528,"depth":638,"text":529},{"id":552,"depth":633,"text":553},{"id":596,"depth":633,"text":597},"Learn the most common ways to say yes in Japanese. 8 essential words if you want to sound like a native.","md",{"timestampUnix":657,"slug":658,"h1":659,"image":660,"tags":666},1728437706062,"yes-in-japanese","Eight different ways to say \"yes\" in Japanese",{"src":661,"width":662,"height":663,"alt":664,"position":665},"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fmigaku-japanese-yes.webp",7934,5292,"Several people with their thumbs up, showing the global signal for \"yes\"","top",[667,668,669],"culture","vocabulary","phrases",true,"\u002Farticle\u002Fjapanese\u002Fjapanese-yes","---\ntitle: 'Japanese Basics: How To Say \"Yes\" in Japanese'\ndescription: 'Learn the most common ways to say yes in Japanese. 8 essential words if you want to sound like a native.'\ntimestampUnix: 1728437706062\nslug: 'yes-in-japanese'\nh1: 'Eight different ways to say \"yes\" in Japanese'\nimage:\n  src: '\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fmigaku-japanese-yes.webp'\n  width: 7934\n  height: 5292\n  alt: 'Several people with their thumbs up, showing the global signal for \"yes\"'\n  position: 'top'\ntags:\n  - culture\n  - vocabulary\n  - phrases\n---\n\n\"Yes\" is one of the first things you'll learn in any language, so it's naturally a solid first step if you're looking to [learn Japanese](\u002Flearn-japanese).\n\nNo big intro here. We're going to cover several of the most common ways to say yes, have a jolly good time, and be on our way.\n\n\u003Ctoc>\u003C\u002Ftoc>\n\n---\n\n## はい (hai), the simplest way to say yes\n\n|                                 Expression                                  | English Meaning | Romaji | Direct or Indirect |\n| :-------------------------------------------------------------------------: | :-------------: | :----: | :----------------: |\n| はい \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_はい.mp3\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> |       Yes       |  hai   |       Direct       |\n\nThe most straightforward and common way to say \"yes\" in Japanese is \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"はい[;a]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (hai). It can be used in almost any situation, whether formal or informal. You can use はい when you're answering a question, agreeing to a statement, or simply as a verbal acknowledgement that you're listening to someone. You can't really go wrong with はい: it's a versatile and polite response.\n\n### How do you write \"yes\" in Japanese?\n\nJapanese juggles [three alphabets at once](\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fthe-japanese-alphabets): the [hiragana](\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fthe-japanese-language-hiragana), [katakana](\u002Fblog\u002Fjapanese\u002Fthe-japanese-language-katakana), and kanji (Chinese characters). Thankfully, はい is pretty straightforward: it consists of two hiragana characters, shown below:\n\n\u003Cmnemonic code=\"hiragana:ha\">\u003C\u002Fmnemonic>\n\u003Cmnemonic code=\"hiragana:i\">\u003C\u002Fmnemonic>\n\nIf you're new to Japanese, you can recognize that these are hiragana characters because they are so curvy. Katakana (\u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"カタカナ[;n2]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>) are much more angular, and kanji (\u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"漢字[かんじ;h]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>) are much more complex and blocky.\n\n### How to say yes in Japanese\n\nIf you don't care too much about pronunciation, it's enough to know that \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"はい[;a]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> sounds pretty close to English's \"hi\". When you want to say yes in Japanese, just say \"hi\" and Japanese people will understand you.\n\nIf you want to pronounce it more accurately, here are a few little details to help you sound more natural:\n\n1. **The \"ahh\" vowel** — The \"i\" in English's \"hi\" is actually a diphthong, meaning that two vowels are smooshed together. If you stand in front of a mirror and say \"hi\" slowly, you'll be able to see when you transition from the \u002Fa\u002F sound to the \u002Fi\u002F sound. Practice isolating these two sounds a little bit.\n2. **Rhythm** — Whereas we often blend letters together in English, Japanese speakers give each syllable of a word an equal \"beat\" of time. When you speak Japanese, instead of mushing the \"ai\" vowel together like we do in English, make a very crisp transition from \"ha\" to \"ee\".\n3. **Pitch accent** — This word has an \"atamadaka\" pitch pattern, meaning that the first syllable (\"ha\") is higher in pitch and the second syllable (\"ee\") is lower in pitch.\n\nListen to the recording of \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"はい[;a]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_はい.mp3\" :type=\"3\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> a few more times, each time doing your best to focus on one of the above points. The first step to improving your accent in a foreign language is simply learning to listen!\n\n---\n\n## Four more casual ways to say yes\n\n|                                     Expression                                      | English Meaning |  Romaji  | Direct or Indirect |\n| :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------: | :-------------: | :------: | :----------------: |\n|    うん \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002F\u002Fblog\u002Fja_うん.mp3\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio>     |   mhm\u002Fuh-huh    |    un    |       Direct       |\n|     そう \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_そう.mp3\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio>     |  That’s right   |   sou    |       Direct       |\n|     ええ \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_ええ.mp3\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio>     |       Yes       |    ee    |       Direct       |\n| もちろん \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_もちろん.mp3\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> |    Of course    | mochiron |       Direct       |\n\n### うん (un), the Japanese mmhmm\n\nNext, \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"うん[;a]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> is an informal and colloquial way to say \"yes.\" It's similar in meaning to はい, but is used in casual conversations, especially among close friends or family members.\n\nThis is a great word to know, and so long as you avoid using it in the workplace or with strangers, you should be fine!\n\n### そう (sou), \"that's right\"\n\nWhen you want to confirm that something is correct or that you agree with what someone else has said, say \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"そう[;a]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>. This nuance in mind, it's often employed in response to statements, but not in response to direct questions.\n\nYou may also hear \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"そう[;h,a] です[;a]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (sou desu) \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_そうです.mp3\" :type=\"3\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> and \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"そうですね[;a]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (sou desu ne) \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_そうですね.mp3\" :type=\"3\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> . Both of these words mean pretty much the same thing as \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"そう[;a]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>, but their nuance is slightly different. The addition of です makes \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"そう[;h,a] です[;a]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> more polite than \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"そう[;a]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>, and the [sentence-ending particle ね](https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FSentence-final_particle#:~:text=%E3%81%AD%20ne%3A%20agreement.) in \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"そうですね[;a]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> just adds a stronger feeling of agreement.\n\n_Note: \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"そう[;a]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> appears in several grammar points, so you might sometimes see it in the middle of a sentence or somewhere you don't expect._\n\n### ええ (ehh), a more casual yes\n\nPerhaps the easiest one on the list, \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"ええ[;a]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> is slightly less formal than \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"はい[;a]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> and is often used in casual conversations. \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"ええ[;a]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> conveys a relaxed and agreeable tone, making it suitable to use with friends, family, and in less formal settings.\n\n### もちろん (mochiron), \"certainly\"\n\nFinally, \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"もちろん[;n2]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (mochiron) is used when you want to strongly affirm something, expressing that the answer is obvious or a given. It’s a confident and sometimes emphatic way to say \"yes\", akin to saying \"of course\" in English.\n\n---\n\n## Three more nuanced ways to say yes\n\n| Expression                                                                                                                        | English Meaning | Romaji    | Direct or Indirect |\n| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------- | --------- | ------------------ |\n| \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"了解[りょうかい]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_了解.mp3\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio>          | I understand    | ryoukai   | Indirect           |\n| \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"大丈夫[だいじょうぶ]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_大丈夫.mp3\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio>    | Alright         | daijoubu  | Indirect           |\n| \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"構[かま,かまう]わない\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_構わない.mp3\" :type=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> | I don't mind    | kamawanai | Indirect           |\n\n### 了解 (ryoukai), a more professional way to say \"yes\"\n\nThe phrase \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"了解[りょうかい;h]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>\nis often used in professional or formal settings to indicate that you've understood a command, instruction, or request and will comply with it. It’s akin to saying \"Roger\" or \"understood\" in English, and it carries a sense of acknowledgment and agreement.\n\nGiven that this is a more formal expression, you can also expect to hear \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"了解[りょうかい;h] です[;a]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (ryoukai desu) \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_了解です.mp3\" :type=\"3\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio> or \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"了解[りょうかい;h] し[,する;h]ました\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (ryoukai shimashita) \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_了解しました.mp3\" :type=\"3\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio>, which mean the same thing as \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"了解[りょうかい;h]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> but are a little more polite, and are thus suitable for use with colleagues.\n\nIf you are talking with your boss or somebody much older than you, you can instead say \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"畏[かしこ,かしこまる;k4]まりました\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> (kashikomarimashita) \u003Ccustom-audio src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fja_かしこまりました.mp3\" :type=\"3\">\u003C\u002Fcustom-audio>, which is an honorific phrase that means the same thing as \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"了解[りょうかい;h]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>.\n\n### 大丈夫 (daijoubu), a phrase that can mean yes _and_ no\n\n\u003Cp>\n\u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"大丈夫[だいじょうぶ]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> is a versatile word that can be used to reassure someone or to indicate that something is acceptable.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\nThis word literally means something like \"I'm fine\", so depending on the situation, it can actually mean yes _or_ no.\n\n- **When it means yes** — when somebody asks if you're OK, if something is alright, or any sort of question asking how you feel\n- **When it means no** — if somebody asks if you want something (such as dessert at a restaurant), saying this is literally saying \"I'm fine (as I am, without the dessert)\" ... so if you want that pie, be sure to say \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"はい[;a]\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>!\n\n### 構わない (kamawanai), a stiffer\u002Fmore distant confirmation\n\nThe phrase \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"構[かま,かまう;k2]わない\">\u003C\u002Ftypo> is used to express that something is okay or acceptable with you. It has a nuance of giving someone permission to do something, or telling them not to worry. Translating the word literally, you're saying that something of no concern to you or that you're indifferent to the result.\n\nThis is a normal expression and is perfectly OK to use when you want to express that something is OK or that you don't care — such as if someone asks if they can sit next to you on the train. \"Yeah that's fine \u002F I don't care.\"\n\nJust like in English, though, you have to be careful with \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"構[かま,かまう;k2]わない\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>. If you're in a rough situation with your partner and, upset, they ask if they should stay or go, and you say \u003Ctypo lang=\"ja\" syntax=\"構[かま,かまう;k2]わない\">\u003C\u002Ftypo>... well, that's going to hurt.\n\n---\n\n## A beginner's course that will bring you from zero to Netflix in six months\n\nI'm assuming here, but if you're googling how to say yes in Japanese, you're probably thinking about learning Japanese.\n\nIt's convenient that you're here, because we've got what users pretty consistently praise as the best Japanese course on the market. It's a flashcard-based course, and you can see it below:\n\n\u003Cimg src=\"\u002Fassets\u002Fblog\u002Fmigaku-japanese-academy-yes.jpeg\" width=\"1642\" height=\"1152\" alt=\"A screenshot from Migaku's Japanese course, showing how we help users learn Japanese vocabulary and grammar\" \u002F>\n\nWhat makes our course special is unfortunately under the hood and thus not visible in this picture, but to be brief:\n\n1. We teach the specific 1,500 words you need to make sense of 80% of any Japanese sentence you encounter\n2. You'll learn these words by learning practical sentences that include them—every sentence includes only one new word, and every flashcard is backed by [spaced repetition](\u002Fblog\u002Flanguage-fun\u002Fspaced-repetition-language-learning)\n3. The sentences you learn were very carefully curated to expose you to around 300 common grammar points: if you learn the sentence, you'll also pick up the grammatical structure it contains\n\nOh, and that picture in the bottom right isn't a fluke. We literally hired a dude to stack our course with memes. It's great... and you can try it totally free for ten days:\n\n\u003Cprose-button href=\"\u002Flearn-japanese\" text=\"Learn Japanese with Migaku\">\u003C\u002Fprose-button>\n\n---\n\n## The most important thing to remember if you want to learn Japanese\n\nI started studying Japanese back in 2014, and I've been abroad pretty much ever since. I've met hundreds of people learning language in that time, and as time went on, [a pattern emerged](\u002Fblog\u002Flanguage-fun\u002F3-things-to-learn-a-language).\n\nThe most common reason people fail to learn Japanese is that they spend all their time learning _about_ Japanese, instead of spending time _in_ Japanese.\n\nSo, however you end up learning Japanese, if I could give you one piece of advice, it would be this:\n\n> If you consume media you enjoy in Japanese, and you understand some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. _Period_.\n\nGood luck, friend 💪\n",{"title":5,"description":654},"article\u002Fjapanese\u002Fjapanese-yes","kmTRg7NyGfHAlZiv3C-Wz8j0u0HyPVZsXH7m7e0pP4Q","October 9, 2024",{"approximate_member_count":678},20252,null,[681],{"id":4,"title":5,"body":682,"description":654,"extension":655,"meta":1100,"navigation":670,"path":671,"rawbody":672,"seo":1103,"stem":674,"__hash__":675,"timestampUnix":657,"slug":658,"h1":659,"image":1101,"tags":1102},{"type":7,"value":683,"toc":1081},[684,688,690,692,694,696,724,728,730,738,740,742,744,750,752,756,758,772,778,780,782,846,848,852,854,856,860,881,887,889,897,899,903,905,907,965,967,973,985,993,997,1001,1005,1017,1019,1023,1025,1031,1033,1035,1037,1039,1041,1043,1053,1055,1057,1059,1061,1065,1071,1073,1079],[10,685,12,686,18],{},[14,687,17],{"href":16},[10,689,21],{},[23,691],{},[26,693],{},[29,695,32],{"id":31},[34,697,698,710],{},[37,699,700],{},[40,701,702,704,706,708],{},[43,703,46],{"align":45},[43,705,49],{"align":45},[43,707,52],{"align":45},[43,709,55],{"align":45},[57,711,712],{},[40,713,714,718,720,722],{},[62,715,64,716],{"align":45},[66,717],{"src":68,":type":69},[62,719,72],{"align":45},[62,721,75],{"align":45},[62,723,78],{"align":45},[10,725,81,726,87],{},[83,727],{"lang":85,"syntax":86},[89,729,92],{"id":91},[10,731,95,732,100,734,105,736,110],{},[14,733,99],{"href":98},[14,735,104],{"href":103},[14,737,109],{"href":108},[112,739],{"code":114},[116,741],{},[112,743],{"code":120},[10,745,123,746,127,748,131],{},[83,747],{"lang":85,"syntax":126},[83,749],{"lang":85,"syntax":130},[89,751,135],{"id":134},[10,753,138,754,141],{},[83,755],{"lang":85,"syntax":86},[10,757,144],{},[146,759,760,764,768],{},[149,761,762,155],{},[152,763,154],{},[149,765,766,161],{},[152,767,160],{},[149,769,770,167],{},[152,771,166],{},[10,773,170,774,173,776,177],{},[83,775],{"lang":85,"syntax":86},[66,777],{"src":68,":type":176},[26,779],{},[29,781,183],{"id":182},[34,783,784,796],{},[37,785,786],{},[40,787,788,790,792,794],{},[43,789,46],{"align":45},[43,791,49],{"align":45},[43,793,52],{"align":45},[43,795,55],{"align":45},[57,797,798,810,822,834],{},[40,799,800,804,806,808],{},[62,801,204,802],{"align":45},[66,803],{"src":207,":type":69},[62,805,210],{"align":45},[62,807,213],{"align":45},[62,809,78],{"align":45},[40,811,812,816,818,820],{},[62,813,220,814],{"align":45},[66,815],{"src":223,":type":69},[62,817,226],{"align":45},[62,819,229],{"align":45},[62,821,78],{"align":45},[40,823,824,828,830,832],{},[62,825,236,826],{"align":45},[66,827],{"src":239,":type":69},[62,829,72],{"align":45},[62,831,244],{"align":45},[62,833,78],{"align":45},[40,835,836,840,842,844],{},[62,837,251,838],{"align":45},[66,839],{"src":254,":type":69},[62,841,257],{"align":45},[62,843,260],{"align":45},[62,845,78],{"align":45},[89,847,266],{"id":265},[10,849,269,850,273],{},[83,851],{"lang":85,"syntax":272},[10,853,276],{},[89,855,280],{"id":279},[10,857,283,858,287],{},[83,859],{"lang":85,"syntax":286},[10,861,290,862,294,864,298,866,302,868,306,870,309,872,312,874,315,876,322,879,325],{},[83,863],{"lang":85,"syntax":293},[66,865],{"src":297,":type":176},[83,867],{"lang":85,"syntax":301},[66,869],{"src":305,":type":176},[83,871],{"lang":85,"syntax":286},[83,873],{"lang":85,"syntax":293},[83,875],{"lang":85,"syntax":286},[14,877,321],{"href":318,"rel":878},[320],[83,880],{"lang":85,"syntax":301},[10,882,883],{},[329,884,331,885,334],{},[83,886],{"lang":85,"syntax":286},[89,888,338],{"id":337},[10,890,341,891,345,893,348,895,351],{},[83,892],{"lang":85,"syntax":344},[83,894],{"lang":85,"syntax":86},[83,896],{"lang":85,"syntax":344},[89,898,355],{"id":354},[10,900,358,901,362],{},[83,902],{"lang":85,"syntax":361},[26,904],{},[29,906,368],{"id":367},[34,908,909,921],{},[37,910,911],{},[40,912,913,915,917,919],{},[43,914,46],{},[43,916,49],{},[43,918,52],{},[43,920,55],{},[57,922,923,937,951],{},[40,924,925,931,933,935],{},[62,926,927,173,929],{},[83,928],{"lang":85,"syntax":391},[66,930],{"src":394,":type":69},[62,932,397],{},[62,934,400],{},[62,936,403],{},[40,938,939,945,947,949],{},[62,940,941,173,943],{},[83,942],{"lang":85,"syntax":410},[66,944],{"src":413,":type":69},[62,946,416],{},[62,948,419],{},[62,950,403],{},[40,952,953,959,961,963],{},[62,954,955,173,957],{},[83,956],{"lang":85,"syntax":428},[66,958],{"src":431,":type":69},[62,960,434],{},[62,962,437],{},[62,964,403],{},[89,966,443],{"id":442},[10,968,446,969,971,452],{},[83,970],{"lang":85,"syntax":449},[116,972],{},[10,974,455,975,459,977,463,979,467,981,471,983,474],{},[83,976],{"lang":85,"syntax":458},[66,978],{"src":462,":type":176},[83,980],{"lang":85,"syntax":466},[66,982],{"src":470,":type":176},[83,984],{"lang":85,"syntax":449},[10,986,477,987,481,989,485,991,18],{},[83,988],{"lang":85,"syntax":480},[66,990],{"src":484,":type":176},[83,992],{"lang":85,"syntax":449},[89,994,491,995,495],{"id":490},[329,996,494],{},[10,998,999,500],{},[83,1000],{"lang":85,"syntax":410},[10,1002,503,1003,507],{},[329,1004,506],{},[509,1006,1007,1011],{},[149,1008,1009,516],{},[152,1010,515],{},[149,1012,1013,522,1015,525],{},[152,1014,521],{},[83,1016],{"lang":85,"syntax":86},[89,1018,529],{"id":528},[10,1020,446,102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Writing Systems Explained: Hiragana, Katakana & Kanji","Learn the three Japanese writing systems: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. 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Complete guide to hiragana, katakana, and kanji with practical tips for mastering Japanese writing systems.",{"alt":1129,"src":1130,"width":1115,"height":1131,"previewOnly":1117},"Understanding the Japanese writing system - Banner","https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku-cms-assets.migaku.com\u002FScreenshot_2026_04_13_014615_3eddd837e9\u002FScreenshot_2026_04_13_014615_3eddd837e9.png",626,[1119,1133,1134],"pronunciation","grammar","1776027660000",{"id":1137,"documentId":1138,"slug":1139,"category":1109,"lang":679,"title":1140,"description":1141,"image":1142,"tags":1146,"timestampUnix":1147,"featured":1117},5846,"q6j9qy3whoetrn9x84kd4wkl","japanese-weather-phrases-daily-conversation","Japanese Weather Phrases for Daily Conversation","Learn common Japanese weather phrases for everyday conversations. Master essential vocabulary like sunny, rainy, and temperature descriptions with examples.",{"alt":1143,"src":1144,"width":1115,"height":1145,"previewOnly":1117},"Common Japanese weather phrases for daily conversation - Banner","https:\u002F\u002Fmigaku-cms-assets.migaku.com\u002F890940_ea2b811b0b\u002F890940_ea2b811b0b.jpg",800,[668,669],"1775617200000"]