11 Direct and Well mannered Methods To Say ‘No’ in Japanese

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Whereas the textbook definition for “no” in Japanese is iie (いいえ), instantly saying “no” is usually discouraged in Japanese. It might come off as chilly, and the particular person you’re speaking to might imagine you’re mad at them! It’s greatest to order a direct “no” for whenever you’re correcting somebody and instantly following with an evidence. In any other case, being oblique and imprecise is a safer choice to make the opposite particular person perceive your implicit that means. Use this information that will help you decide probably the most applicable “no” for the state of affairs as you be taught Japanese.

Direct methods to say ‘no’ in Japanese

Even when it’s not at all times perfect, you must know learn how to say “no” in Japanese in a direct manner.

Lie (no) 

Essentially the most direct translation for “no” is iie. You would possibly see it pronounced as iya (いや), particularly in informal conditions. It will also be used to say “no downside” in Japanese!

• Iie, sonna koto wa arimasen.（いいえ、そんなことはありません。）= No, that’s not the case.

Uun (mm-mm)

Like un for “mm-hm,” the Japanese pronunciation for uun (ううん) doesn’t even require you to half your lips. To distinguish the 2, be sure to pronounce the 2 u-sounds as separate syllables. 

• Uun, ii yo.（ううん、いいよ。）= Mm-mm, it’s superb.

Dame (can’t)

To say one thing is outright unhealthy, you should use dame (だめ). That is particularly helpful if you could inform somebody to cease shortly.

• Dame, abunai!（だめ、危ない！）= You may’t, it’s harmful!

Muri (no manner)

If one thing is totally inconceivable and out of the query, muri (無理) places an finish to the dialogue. 

• Zettai muri desu.（絶対無理です。）= No manner, completely not.

Dekinai (I can’t)

Typically you merely can’t, even if you wish to. That’s the place dekinai (できない) turns out to be useful. 

• Dekinai yo. Mon nashi nan da.（できないよ。文無しなんだ。）= I can’t. I’m useless broke.

Chigau (that’s incorrect)

On the extra oblique aspect of the direct methods to say “no” in Japanese, chigau (違う) is solely telling the opposite individual that what they’re saying isn’t true. Be sure you comply with up with a correction! 

• Chigau yo. Amerika jin ja nakute, kanada jin nan da yo.（違うよ。アメリカ人じゃなくて、カナダ人なんだよ。）= That’s incorrect. I’m not American, I’m Canadian.

Well mannered methods to say ‘no’ in Japanese

The extra formal a state of affairs is, the extra preferable oblique methods to say “no” grow to be. Pay attention fastidiously whenever you hear these Japanese phrases and search for context clues to find out your subsequent steps.

Sumimasen ga… (sorry, however…)

Sumimasen is one strategy to say “sorry” in Japanese, however the addition of the particle for “however” (ga, が) adopted by silence or an reason why the particular person is expressing remorse is a quiet “no.” 

• Sumimasen ga shukudai ga aru node.（すみませんが宿題があるので。）= Sorry, however I’ve homework, so…

Sore wa chotto… (that’s a bit…)

One other frequent strategy to not directly flip somebody down is to indicate that the suggestion is to not your liking by saying sore wa chotto (それはちょっと). Regardless of the matter is a “bit” of, it’s clearly not nice.

• Danbōru beddo? Sore wa chotto…（段ボールベッド？それはちょっと…。）= A cardboard mattress? That’s a bit…

Sore wa muzukashii desu (that might be tough)

If somebody responds to your request by telling you sore wa muzukashii desu (それは難しいです), it’s not that it’s actually tough—it’s a “no.” Particularly in enterprise conditions, for those who hear this phrase, it’s time to discover a new resolution.

• Ashita? Sore wa muzukashii desu. (明日？それは難しいです。) = Tomorrow? That will be tough.

Daijōbu (no, I’m okay)

“No” isn’t at all times a foul factor. If somebody thinks you’re in a foul temper and asks if one thing’s fallacious, you may guarantee them that every little thing’s okay with daijōbu (大丈夫).

• Okotteiru no?（怒っているの？）= Are you upset?
  • Iya, daijōbu.（いや、大丈夫。）= No, I’m okay.

Kekkō desu (no, thanks)

You should utilize kekkō desu to say “no, thanks” when somebody provides you one thing however you need to politely decline. It’s simply as necessary as realizing learn how to say “thanks” in Japanese!

• Bīru wa?（ビールは？）= Desire a beer?
  • Kekkō desu. (結構です。）= No, thanks.

The way to write ‘no’ in Japanese

To write down ‘no’ in Japanese, hiragana shall be adequate for many phrases. In some circumstances, you would possibly even simply see an X! Japanese makes use of a couple of icons within the office and faculty as shorthand for whether or not one thing is allowed:

• ✕: batsu (罰), which might imply “no,” “unhealthy,” or “incorrect”
• 〇: maru (丸), which might imply “sure,” “good,” or “right”

Some emojis replicate this, too. The picture of an individual crossing their arms in an “x” form (🙅) means “no,” and the picture of an individual making a circle with their arms (🙆️) means “sure” or “okay.” When you’re typing in Japanese on a cellular machine, coming into batsu or maru ought to convey up the emojis as choices so that you can check out for your self.