While the textbook definition for “no” in Japanese is iie (いいえ), directly saying “no” is generally discouraged in Japanese. It can come off as cold, and the person you’re talking to may think you’re mad at them! It’s best to reserve a direct “no” for when you’re correcting someone and immediately following with an explanation. Otherwise, being indirect and vague is a safer option to make the other person understand your implicit meaning. Use this guide to help you determine the most appropriate “no” for the situation as you learn Japanese.
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Direct ways to say ‘no’ in Japanese
Even if it’s not always ideal, you should know how to say “no” in Japanese in a direct way.
Lie (no)
The most direct translation for “no” is iie. You might see it pronounced as iya (いや), especially in casual situations. It can also be used to say “no problem” in Japanese!
- Iie, sonna koto wa arimasen.（いいえ、そんなことはありません。）= No, that’s not the case.
Uun (mm-mm)
Like un for “mm-hm,” the Japanese pronunciation for uun (ううん) doesn’t even require you to part your lips. To differentiate the two, make sure you pronounce the two u-sounds as separate syllables.
- Uun, ii yo.（ううん、いいよ。）= Mm-mm, it’s fine.
Dame (cannot)
To say something is outright bad, you can use dame (だめ). This is especially useful if you need to tell someone to stop quickly.
- Dame, abunai!（だめ、危ない！）= You can’t, it’s dangerous!
Muri (no way)
If something is completely impossible and out of the question, muri (無理) puts an end to the discussion.
- Zettai muri desu.（絶対無理です。）= No way, absolutely not.
Dekinai (I can’t)
Sometimes you simply can’t, even if you want to. That’s where dekinai (できない) comes in handy.
- Dekinai yo. Mon nashi nan da.（できないよ。文無しなんだ。）= I can’t. I’m dead broke.
Chigau (that’s incorrect)
On the more indirect side of the direct ways to say “no” in Japanese, chigau (違う) is simply telling the other person that what they’re saying isn’t true. Make sure you follow up with a correction!
- Chigau yo. Amerika jin ja nakute, kanada jin nan da yo.（違うよ。アメリカ人じゃなくて、カナダ人なんだよ。）= That’s incorrect. I’m not American, I’m Canadian.
Polite ways to say ‘no’ in Japanese
The more formal a situation is, the more preferable indirect ways to say “no” become. Listen carefully when you hear these Japanese phrases and look for context clues to determine your next steps.
Sumimasen ga… (sorry, but…)
Sumimasen is one way to say “sorry” in Japanese, but the addition of the particle for “but” (ga, が) followed by silence or an explanation why the person is expressing regret is a quiet “no.”
- Sumimasen ga shukudai ga aru node.（すみませんが宿題があるので。）= Sorry, but I have homework, so…
Sore wa chotto… (that’s a bit…)
Another common way to indirectly turn someone down is to imply that the suggestion is not to your liking by saying sore wa chotto (それはちょっと). Whatever the matter is a “bit” of, it’s clearly not pleasant.
- Danbōru beddo? Sore wa chotto…（段ボールベッド？それはちょっと…。）= A cardboard bed? That’s a bit…
Sore wa muzukashii desu (that would be difficult)
If someone responds to your request by telling you sore wa muzukashii desu (それは難しいです), it’s not that it’s literally difficult—it’s a “no.” Especially in business situations, if you hear this phrase, it’s time to find a new solution.
- Ashita? Sore wa muzukashii desu. (明日？それは難しいです。) = Tomorrow? That would be difficult.
Daijōbu (no, I’m okay)
“No” isn’t always a bad thing. If someone thinks you’re in a bad mood and asks if something’s wrong, you can assure them that everything’s okay with daijōbu (大丈夫).
- Okotteiru no?（怒っているの？）= Are you upset?
- Iya, daijōbu.（いや、大丈夫。）= No, I’m okay.
Kekkō desu (no, thank you)
You can use kekkō desu to say “no, thank you” when someone offers you something but you want to politely decline. It’s just as important as knowing how to say “thank you” in Japanese!
- Bīru wa?（ビールは？）= Want a beer?
- Kekkō desu. (結構です。）= No, thank you.
How to write ‘no’ in Japanese
To write ‘no’ in Japanese, hiragana will be sufficient for most words. In some cases, you might even just see an X! Japanese uses a few icons in the workplace and school as shorthand for whether something is allowed:
- ✕: batsu (罰), which can mean “no,” “bad,” or “incorrect”
- 〇: maru (丸), which can mean “yes,” “good,” or “correct”
Some emojis reflect this, too. The image of a person crossing their arms in an “x” shape (
) means “no,” and the image of a person making a circle with their arms (
) means “yes” or “okay.” If you’re typing in Japanese on a mobile device, entering batsu or maru should bring up the emojis as options for you to try out for yourself.
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