OK

ŌKē
interjectionBeginnerLoanword from EnglishOK
informal

An expression of agreement, approval, or acknowledgment

「はい、OKです。」

Yes, that's okay.

💡

Commonly used in both spoken and written Japanese, often abbreviated as 'OK' or 'オーケー' (ōkē).

formal

A signal that something is acceptable or satisfactory

「この提案はOKですか?」

Is this proposal acceptable?

💡

In formal contexts, it may be used in business or official communications.

Collocations

OKですit's okayOKかどうかwhether it's okay

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

OKサインphrase
OK sign (hand gesture)
OKボタンphrase
OK button

💡Pro Tip

Casual vs. Formal Usage

In informal settings, 'OK' is widely used, but in formal contexts, it may be replaced with more polite expressions like '了解しました' (ryōkai shimashita).

Gold Rule

Avoid Overuse

While 'OK' is common, overusing it in formal writing or professional settings may sound too casual.

📖Word Origin

Derived from the English word 'OK,' which itself has uncertain origins but is widely used in Japanese as a loanword.

📝Usage Notes

In Japanese, 'OK' is often used in casual conversation and can be written in katakana as 'オーケー' (ōkē). It is also commonly used in business contexts to confirm agreement.

Word Breakdown

O
originally from 'oll korrect'
prefix
+
K
originally from 'oll korrect'
suffix
和英辞典