いいえ

Japanese

Alternative forms
  • (usually in repetition) いえ (ie)

Etymology

Corruption of 否 (ina); related to 否む (inamu, “refuse”).

Pronunciation

Interjection

いいえ (rōmaji īe)

  1. no
    「東 (とう)京 (きょう)出 (しゅっ)身 (しん)ですか。」「いいえ、大 (おお)阪 (さか)出 (しゅっ)身 (しん)です。」
    “Tōkyō shusshin desu ka.” “Īe, Ōsaka shusshin desu.”
    "Are you from Tokyo?" "No, I am from Osaka."
  2. Response to words of gratitude.
    「ありがとうございます。」「いいえ、どういたしまして。」
    “Arigatō gozaimasu.” “Īe, dō itashimashite.”
    "Thank you." "My pleasure."
    「あ、どうも。」「いえいえ、こちらこそ。」
    “A, dōmo.” “Ie ie, kochira koso.”
    "Oh, thanks." "Not at all, I should thank you."

Usage notes

May be considered overly direct. Use of simple declaratives is also possible, such as 違 (ちが)います (chigaimasu).

Synonyms

Antonyms

See also

References
  1. 1974, 新明解国語辞典 (Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten), Second Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō
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