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いいえ
iie
no
A: これは本ですか。 B: いいえ、これは本ではありません。
A: Is this a book? B: No, this is not a book.
formal
Used to express disagreement or negation in response to a question or statement.
「お腹が空きましたか。」「いいえ、まだ大丈夫です。」
"Are you hungry?" "No, I'm fine for now."
More formal than ううん (un) or いや (iya), often used in polite or written contexts.
formal
Used to politely decline an offer or invitation.
「コーヒーはいかがですか。」「いいえ、結構です。」
"Would you like some coffee?" "No, thank you."
Followed by 結構です (kekkō desu) to soften the refusal.
Pro Tip
Polite Negation
In formal settings, いいえ is preferred over casual alternatives. Pair it with 結構です to soften refusals, e.g., 「いいえ、けっこうです」 (No, that's fine).
Word Origin
From the Old Japanese *ina* (否), meaning 'not' or 'no'. The modern form いいえ emerged as a polite emphatic negation.
Usage Notes
Used in response to questions or statements to negate them. More formal than casual alternatives like ううん or いや. Often paired with 結構です to politely decline offers.
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