How to say “Yes” in Japanese
The most common way to say “yes” in Japanese. Tap to copy or hear it pronounced.
はい
Frequently asked
How do you say "Yes" in Japanese?
"Yes" in Japanese is "はい". This is the most common everyday rendering; depending on context, formal/informal or dialectal variants may apply.
How is "はい" written in Japanese?
Japanese uses the Hiragana, a syllabary. "はい" is the standard left-to-right written form.
How do you pronounce "はい" in Japanese?
Tap the speaker icon on this page to hear "はい" pronounced by a native-style synthetic voice. For practice, repeat the phrase out loud immediately after listening — the rhythm and stress are usually what trips learners up, not the individual sounds.
What does "はい" mean in English?
"はい" is the Japanese way of saying "Yes" in English. It's used in everyday conversation in roughly the same situations as the English original.
Are there formal or informal ways to say "Yes" in Japanese?
Many languages — including Japanese — distinguish formal and informal registers, and may also vary by speaker gender, plurality, or regional dialect. "はい" is the most broadly understood form; for register-specific variants, use the full translator above with your exact sentence.
Where is Japanese spoken?
Japanese is spoken by an estimated 128 million people worldwide. Use the language page to translate full text and explore where the language is used.
Is there a free Japanese dictionary?
Yes — Polytranslator provides a free Japanese dictionary with word-by-word translations and example usage. Click the dictionary link on this page to look up individual words from "はい" or any other Japanese text.