いいえ
iieinterjection★Beginner— no
formal
A polite way to say 'no' in Japanese, often used in formal or polite contexts.
「この本を読みましたか？」 「いいえ、まだです。」
"Have you read this book?" "No, not yet."
💡
Used to politely decline or negate a statement or question. More formal than 'いいえ' (no) in casual speech.
💡Pro Tip
Politeness in Japanese
'いいえ' is a polite way to say 'no.' In casual conversation, you might use 'ううん' (un-un) instead.
📖Word Origin
Derived from the negative form of the verb 'いる' (to be) in classical Japanese, meaning 'not so' or 'not the case.'
📝Usage Notes
Used in formal and polite contexts. In casual speech, 'ううん' (un-un) or 'ううん、違う' (un-un, chigau) may be used instead.
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