Japanese course

Lesson 10 of 240

New here? This is lesson 10 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.

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Yes and no in Japanese

Leo sits at the counter at Kissa Hotaru. Masako asks if the blend is all right, and he needs more than a nod.

A short yes or no is fine, then a longer line when she offers toast or checks his order.

Goro has already taken the extra slice. Leo has to refuse more toast without sounding rude.

By the end, you'll answer yes-or-no questions clearly, not only with a bare yes or no.

By the end of this lesson

Answer yes-or-no questions clearly.

  • はい。Yes.
  • いいえ。No.
  • はい、お願(ねが)いします。Yes, please.
  • いいえ、けっこうです。No, thank you.
  • はい、そうです。Yes, that's right.
  • いいですよ。Sure.

Scene — the blend pot

Leo is at the wooden counter of Kissa Hotaru. Masako holds the blend pot and watches his cup.

Goro sits in the corner booth with an empty toast plate and a blend coffee he has not finished.

Leo sits at the wooden counter while Masako holds the blend pot over his cup and Goro occupies the corner booth with an empty toast plate.

Learn — yes, no, and please

Six short lines cover yes, no, and three longer replies.

You'll accept an offer, refuse one politely, and confirm that someone is right.

  1. Leo gives a small, clear nod toward the blend pot to show that the coffee is all right.

    はい。

    Yes.

    When to use it: Say this to agree or accept what someone just asked.

    Learn it as one piece for a short yes.

  2. Leo gestures no toward the extra toast slice as Masako checks whether it belongs to him.

    いいえ。

    No.

    When to use it: Say this to refuse or correct what someone just asked.

    Learn it as one piece for a short no.

  3. Leo makes a confirming gesture beside his cup as Masako holds the blend pot nearby.

    はい、お願(ねが)いします。

    Yes, please.

    When to use it: Say this when you want what they just offered.

    Learn it as one piece to accept an offer.

  4. Masako offers toast and Leo welcomes a slice while Goro has already taken the extra slice.

    いいえ、けっこうです。

    No, thank you.

    When to use it: Say this to refuse an offer politely.

    Learn it as one piece to turn something down.

    Say it: The small っ makes a short stop in けっこう.

  5. Leo gives Masako a calm go-ahead gesture about Goro having the extra slice.

    はい、そうです。

    Yes, that's right.

    When to use it: Say this when they check a fact and it is right.

    Learn it as one piece to confirm they are right.

  6. Masako offers Leo another slice, and Leo politely declines with an open palm.

    いいですよ。

    Sure.

    When to use it: Say this when someone asks if something is all right.

    Learn it as one piece to give a friendly yes.

Story — extra toast

Watch Leo answer Masako at the counter. A short yes is not always enough.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Rain still on the lane. Leo sits at the wooden counter.
  2. Leoこんにちは。Hello.
  3. Masakoブレンドはいいですか。Is the blend all right?
  4. Leoはい。Yes.
  5. Masakoブレンドコーヒーですか。Is that blend coffee?
  6. Leoはい、そうです。Yes, that's right.
  7. Masakoトーストはいかがですか。Would you like toast?
  8. Leoはい、お願(ねが)いします。Yes, please.
  9. Goro has already taken the extra slice.
  10. Masakoそれはレオさんのですか。Is that Leo's?
  11. Leoいいえ。No.
  12. Masakoゴローさんにどうぞ。いいですか。Go ahead for Goro. Is that all right?
  13. Leoいいですよ。Sure.
  14. Masako holds another slice toward Leo.
  15. Leoいいえ、けっこうです。No, thank you.

Practice — short or long

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, build a line, and swap a word.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    Masako asks if the blend is all right. It is. Give a short yes.

  3. What does it mean?

    いいえ。

  4. Fill the gap

    No, thank you.

    いいえ、____です。

  5. Pick the reply

    Masako says:

    ゴローさんにどうぞ。いいですか。

    May Goro have it?

    And you reply with:

  6. Build the line

    Yes, that's right.

    、。

    Tap the words in order.

  7. What do you say?

    You sit down at the counter. Greet Masako.

  8. Swap the word

    Masako offers you toast. Accept it, don't say you will do that.

    はい、____します。

  9. True or false?

    Say this when you want to refuse extra toast.

  10. Fill the gap

    Please.

    お願(ねが)い____。

  11. Find the mistake

Say it — say yes or no

Now you're Leo at the counter. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. Masakoブレンドはいいですか。Is the blend all right?
  2. Leo (you)Give a short yes.

    はい。

    Yes.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

JapaneseEnglish
はい。Yes.
いいえ。No.
はい、お願(ねが)いします。Yes, please.
いいえ、けっこうです。No, thank you.
はい、そうです。Yes, that's right.
いいですよ。Sure.
Next: lesson 11Is it or isn't it

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these yes and no lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your yes and no ready at the counter.

Open Yak Cards