Japanese Word for
はいhai
yes · correct · understood
Ways to say yes
Context
はい is the standard polite "yes." うん is the casual equivalent. Important: はい often means "I hear you / understood" rather than firm agreement — Japanese communication relies heavily on context.
Expressions of agreement
はい
hai
yes, correct, here (answering roll call)
うん
un
yeah, uh-huh (casual)
そうです
sō desu
that's right, that's so
もちろん
mochiron
of course, certainly
承知しました
shōchi shimashita
understood, I acknowledge (formal)
いいですよ
ii desu yo
that's fine / yes, that's okay
Japanese "yes" is more nuanced than in English. はい (hai) during a conversation often means "I'm listening / I follow you" rather than agreement. This confuses many English speakers, who interpret repeated はい as enthusiastic consent. The phrase あいまいな返事 (aimai na henji — ambiguous reply) reflects the Japanese tendency to avoid direct refusals.
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