19 Methods To Say ‘Sure’ in Japanese To Be Extra Exact

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One of many first Japanese phrases you’ll be taught is hai (はい), or “sure.” Regardless of who you’re speaking to, it’s a superbly well mannered phrase to make use of to specific settlement or affirmation. However what if you wish to be extra informal or formal when saying “sure”? Including a couple of extra choices for “sure” in Japanese to your vocabulary will make you extra fluent and extra assured.

Realizing learn how to specific “sure” and “no” in Japanese goes to be important in your skill to speak in even probably the most primary conversations. As you be taught Japanese, discover methods to observe talking with others to make use of these phrases in context!

How do you write ‘sure’ in Japanese?

Most often, you’ll write phrases that imply “sure” in Japanese in hiragana. To make use of these characters in a sentence, slot them in equally to how you’d in English. This is similar should you’re writing or talking it. In different phrases, hai can stand alone as its personal sentence, as a query, or on the entrance of a sentence with extra particulars following. General, Japanese phrase order doesn’t have an effect on the position of phrases like “sure.”

• Hai.（はい。）= Sure.
• Hai?（はい？）= Sure?
• Hai, ichinensei desu.（はい、一年生です。）= Sure, I’m a freshman.

The three commonest methods to say ‘sure’ in Japanese

Probably the most extensively used phrase for “sure” in Japanese is hai. Past that, you’ll discover a number of phrases with comparable meanings, a lot in the identical method that English has phrases like “yeah,” “uh-huh,” and “positive.” All of them imply the identical factor (though intonation and context issues), however the state of affairs can dictate which of them take advantage of sense on the time.

Hai (Sure)

The phrase hai can be utilized in informal conversations and formal conditions, so you may’t go unsuitable with it. In the event you solely keep in mind one Japanese phrase for “sure,” keep in mind this one. 

• Kare wa neteimasu ka.（彼は寝ていますか。）= Is he sleeping?
  • Hai.（はい。）= Sure.

Pay shut consideration to inflection and context while you hear somebody use hai. Though it means “sure” in most conditions, it will also be used to say “excuse me?” (with a rising intonation) or to verify “current!” throughout an attendance roll name.

Sō desu (That’s proper)

One other extraordinarily widespread phrase for “sure” is sō desu (そうです), which is near “that’s proper.” It matches most appropriately in a state of affairs the place somebody asks for affirmation and their assertion is appropriate.

• Nihongo ga pera pera desu ne.（日本語がペラペラですね。）= You’re fluent in Japanese, proper?
  • Sō desu.（そうです。）= That’s proper.

To make this expression extra informal, strive saying sō da or sō, dropping the verb desu. Attaching the Japanese particles ne (ね) or yo (よ) to the tip of the phrase can even add some taste to your speech.

Mochiron (After all)

For a extra emphatic phrase, you should utilize mochiron (もちろん) to imply “after all!” or “undoubtedly!” If you wish to add an additional stage of politeness, you may add desu to the tip as effectively. 

• Ato de tabe ni iku?（後で食べに行く？）= Wish to exit to eat later?
  • Mochiron!（もちろん！）= After all! (informal)
  • Mochiron desu!（もちろんです！）= After all! (well mannered)

4 informal methods to say ‘sure’ in Japanese

What number of occasions a day do you utilize “yeah” as a substitute of “sure”? In all probability extra typically than you thought. So should you’re on the lookout for learn how to say “sure” in Japanese in a extra informal method, listed here are 4 choices.

Un (Mm-hm)

The usual, gender-neutral time period for an off-the-cuff “sure” is un (うん). Though it’s pronounced “oon,” the vowel sound is virtually swallowed, ensuing within the phrase sounding nearer to only “n.” You may not even open your lips to say this phrase! 

• Ne, kiiteru?（ね、聞いてる？）= Hey, you listening?
  • Un, kiiteru yo.（うん、聞いてるよ。）= Mm-hm, I’m listening.

Ee (Yeah: female)

The phrase ee (ええ) is on the border between informal and well mannered. It’s usually utilized by ladies, and it has a softer, gentler connotation than hai. If you wish to sound well mannered however female, you should utilize ee as a substitute of hai.

• Ee, sō desu ne.（ええ、そうですね。）= Yeah, that’s proper.

Ou (Yeah: masculine)

In distinction to ee, ou (おう) is decidedly masculine in tone. Whereas ee can have a spot in well mannered dialog, ou is extra generally present in informal conditions. It’s also possible to use it to say “hey!” (though the tone remains to be masculine).

• Ou! Itadakimasu!（おう！いただきます！）= Yeah! Thanks for the meals!

Yoshi (Alright)

Yoshi (よし) is a good slang phrase in Japanese for “sure” when celebrating success. It’s one of many first examples of Japanese slang you’re more likely to hear. Regardless of the way it appears to be like, this phrase will not be pronounced like Nintendo’s inexperienced dinosaur named Yoshi. As an alternative, you’ll drop the “i,” leading to a phrase that seems like “yohsh.” 

• Yoshi! Manten o totta!（よし！満点を取った！）= Alright! I obtained an ideal rating!

2 formal methods to say ‘sure’ in Japanese

A easy “okay” or “sure” in enterprise conditions isn’t at all times adequate—each in English and in Japanese. As an alternative, you’ll hear (or use) these expressions that affirm your understanding of what’s happening and likewise add the next stage of ritual. Realizing the distinction between formal vs. casual speech in Japanese is important to matching the fitting phrases with the fitting conditions.

Kashikomari mashita (Actually)

Usually utilized in a enterprise setting, kashikomari mashita (畏まりました) comes from the verb “kashikomaru“ (畏まる, to respectfully obey) and implies that a request has been acknowledged, understood, and confirmed. You’ll hear this all over the place from the comfort retailer to formal enterprise transactions at a significant company.

• Kōhī o ippai kudasai.（コーヒーを一杯下さい。）= One espresso, please.
  • Hai, kashikomari mashita.（はい、畏まりました。）= Sure, definitely.

Wakari mashita (Understood)

Consider wakari mashita (分かりました) because the formal model of “okay” in Japanese. It’s not essentially a affirmation that the particular person talking will do something with the data, however it’s a affirmation that they’ve obtained and perceive the message. In different phrases, “understood.”

• Kaigi ga henkō saretan desu.（会議が変更されたんです。）= The assembly was rescheduled.
  • Wakarimashita.（分かりました。）= Understood.

Different helpful methods to say ‘sure’

Similar to how there’s a miniscule distinction between “uh-huh” and “mm-hm,” Japanese gives a couple of extra methods to say “sure” which can be practically similar in which means to different phrases on this information. A few of these phrases double as Japanese adverbs, which you’ll select to pair with one other phrase for “sure” (like hai or un), however you don’t should.

Leap into conversations with Rosetta Stone

Training primary phrases like “sure” in Japanese is the quickest approach to keep in mind them. However how do you observe you probably have nobody to observe with? That’s the place utilizing language immersion studying is available in. 

Probably the most pure approach to be taught a brand new language is to immerse your self in it the identical method you probably did while you realized your native language. Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion methodology is built-in into its core classes, offering you with visible and audio cues as every new phrase is launched. Even should you’ve by no means seen a phrase earlier than, the mixture of photographs, textual content, and audio from native audio system units you as much as retailer new data in your long run reminiscence.