Hai! 17 Ways to Say Yes In Japanese with Audio (2024)

Hello Junkies!

Yes! You can learn Japanese!

Okay, now let’s get to the point. To say yes in Japanese, just say “hai.” It sounds like the word “hi.” Got it? Good. But you should know… there are many ways to say yes in Japanese.

You will learn them all in the next 3 minutes.

Also, press the play button to listen to the pronunciation:

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1) はい Yes

• はい
• Hai
  • Listen –

This is the literal translation and most direct way of saying yes in Japanese. It is commonly used in formal settings. Also, Japanese people like to hear this word to know that you understand or are listening to what they are saying.

So, if you’re listening to someone, just say “hai” a few times.

By the way, you should also HEAR real Japanese pronunciation.

So, while you read this lesson, listen to this FREE Japanese Audio Lesson. It’s a bit unrelated but you will learn Japanese greetings.

• Lesson – Say Hello in Japanese No Matter the Time of Day
• by JapanesePod101 – click here for more easy Japanese lessons

2) オッケーOkay

• オッケー
• Okkee
  • Listen –

Yes, you’re right; it sounds like “okay.” Indeed. This literally comes from the English word okay. That’s why it’s written in Katakana, the Japanese alphabet used for foreign words.

You can use this in casual conversations with your friends .

3) わたしが、やります I will do it

• わたしが、やります。
  • Watashi ga yarimasu
  • Listen –

When your boss asks who can do a certain task, you can leave a great impression with a energetic tone and say “わたしが、やります！”

・わたし – watashi – I

4) りょうかいです Noted

• りょうかいです
• Ryoukai desu
• Listen –
  See Also

  Saying Yes in Japanese - Understand the AffirmativesHow to Say Yes in Japanese: 'Hai' and Beyond!"Yes" in Japanese - Ways to express your agreementYes in Japanese: Understanding the Different Ways to Agree - Learn languages with italki

This is kind of like saying yes in Japanese… but…

…you’re not giving them the full satisfaction here.

Sometimes you want to use a word just to show the other person you understand or have taken note of what they had said. “りょうかいです” is a good way to show your acknowledgement.

5) うん Yeah

• うん
• Un
• Listen –

This is a super casual way of saying yes in Japanese. It’s like saying “yeah.” If your friend is telling a story, you can also say it twice like “うん、うん”. You can express your enthusiasm, and encourage the storyteller to carry on with their story.

Warning! If you say it slower, like “う～ん,” then it sounds like you are hesitating, so be aware of how you pronounce this word!

6) いいね！ That’s cool!

• いいね！
• ii ne!
• Listen –

Now, this is a useful phrase. You can use this in so many ways just like the word “Cool” or “Nice!”. Fun fact: if you have your Facebook set to Japanese, you can see that “Like” is also translated to “いいね！”

It’s not a literal way of saying YES in Japanese but you can say it to agree to something. As in, “yes, that’s great” or “awesome idea.”

7) もちろん For sure

• もちろん
• Mochiron
• Listen –

You can use this to assure your friend that everything will be okay! To reassure that your feeling is genuine, you can say it twice quickly, “もちろん、もちろん”.

8) いいとも Sure thing

• いいとも
• ii tomo
• Listen –

This is another way of saying “Sure!” or “no problem!” Fun fact: There is a long running Japanese variety show called “Iitomo”. If you’ve never watched it, try watching it so you will never forget this phrase!

9) かしこまりました Certainly

• かしこまりました
• Kashikomarimash*ta
• Listen –

This is the same meaning as No. 4, but more formal and proper.

It’s a “Keigo” way of saying yes in Japanese.

Keigo is a polite level of Japanese speech.You use this for your boss or someone superior to you at work. No. 4 can be used for colleagues or positions at the same or junior to you, but you can reserve “かしこまりました” for higher ranked individuals.

10) わたしができます I can do it.

• わたしができます。
• Watashi ga dekimasu
• Listen –

Now, this is another useful word to show you are a do-er! You can also take away the “わたしが” part and simply say “できます”.

11) ぜひ、お願いします Definitely, please do.

• ぜひ、お願いします。
• Zehi onegaishimasu
• Listen –

You can use this phrase and immediately show your eagerness. Compared to simply saying ”お願いします” or “please”, it boosts its intensity by about 50%!

• ぜひ – Definitely
• お願い – Please

12) それは、可能です That is possible.

• それは、可能です。
• Sore wa kanou desu
• Listen –

This is a way to say if something can be done or not. It does have a slight stiff and technical tone to it, but it’s good when you need to be precise and clear.

・それは – That is

13) ラジャー Roger

• ラジャー
• Rajaa
• Listen –

This is another word that comes from English.

It’s “roger.” Like pilots saying “roger” or “roger that.”

Although it isn’t as commonly used, you can use this in a casual way similar to “おっけー” in Japanese.

14) 大丈夫 No Problem or That’s Okay!

• 大丈夫
• Daijoubu
• Listen –

The literal translation of “No problem” is “mondai nai – 問題ない”, but the tone of “大丈夫” sounds closer to the English phrases “No problem” or “Don’t worry about it!”

15) ええ Right/Yes

• ええ
• Ee
• Listen –

This term is useful in formal situations.

If you compare it with “はい” and “うん”, the order by formality would be “はい”, “ええ”, then “うん”.

16) いいよ Sure

• いいよ
• Iiyo
• Listen –

This is often used in situations where you give permission or approval to something that was asked of you. Be careful though, by extending the “Ii-” part and saying it in a slightly stronger way, “いいよ” can also sound aggressive and mean “No need”.

17) それでも構いません That is fine with me

• それでも構いません
• sore demo Kaimamasen
• Listen –

Kamaimasen alone is a semi-formal way of saying, “it’s okay” or “I wouldn’t mind”. If you put an adjective in front of this, you can make a sentence such as “~ is fine with me” or “I don’t mind ~”.

• それ – That
• でも – But

18. はい、お願いします Yes, please

• はい、おねがいします。
• Hai, onegaishimasu
• Listen –

If someone asks you if they should do something…

“yes please” in Japanese is a good way to reply.

19. はい、そうだと思います Yes, I think so

• はい、そうだとおもいます。(formal)
  • Hai, sou da to omoimasu
  • Listen –

When you’re not quite sure about saying yes in Japanese…

You may add “I think so,” which is where this phrase comes in.

The above is polite but below you can see more informal ways of saying “Yes I think so” in Japanese.

• そうだとおもうよ。(informal)
  • sou da to omou yo
• そうだよ。(informal)
  • sou dayo

Conclusion

There you have it, you greedy Japanese learner.

You know know how to say Yes! in Japanese. There are many ways you can use the word yes in Japanese, especially if you consider who you are talking to or what the situation is.

By knowing a ton of ways to say yes, you can leave a good impression as an advanced Japanese speaker!

So, say yes to learning Japanese!

Oh, and maybe you want to learn to say no in Japanese too now. If so, click the link.

— the Main Junkie