The easiest way to say “no” in Japanese is by saying “いいえ (iie),” but in actuality, it is not always that simple. Japanese people will rarely give a direct “no” as an answer, preferring instead to communicate indirectly a message that conveys so.

Japanese culture and the language itself has developed to prioritize politeness as a way to maintain peace and cooperation. Because of this, people often communicate indirectly. Saying “no” directly can feel too harsh or disruptive in a society that highly values harmony. That’s why Japanese speakers usually choose their words very carefully, especially in business or formal situations.

So, what are the different ways you can say “no” in Japanese? Let’s continue reading to find out!

How Do You Say No In Japanese?

The exact word and textbook translation for no in Japanese is “いいえ (iie).” In more causal settings, you might also say “ううん (uun)”.

The term いいえ is considered more respectful and won’t sound so harsh. ううん is something you would say with friends or people you’re familiar with. However, Japanese language actually has a wide range of expressions to avoid using a strong no.
For example, they could say chotto that conveys the difficulty of answering a request.

A: Why don’t we drink together tomorrow?「明日一緒に飲みませんか?」Ashita, isshyo ni nomimasen ka?

B: I am sorry, tomorrow. I have some errands…「ごめんなさい、明日はちょっと用事があって・・・」Gomennasai, ashita wa chotto youji ga atte…

Perhaps the best way to interpret no in Japanese is to understand the different levels. We have divided them into four groups, starting from definite expressions to the grey and ambiguous expressions that you have to read in between the lines.

Read More: What Does Chotto Mean in Japanese?

How To Say No In Japanese Around Friends & Colleagues

There are three expressions typically used by friends and close colleagues when it comes to expressing refusal: むり, ダメ and できない. These are ideal for more casual situations.

• 無理(むり) – (Muri)- Impossible
• ダメ – (Dame)- No good
• 出来(でき)ない – (Dekinai)- Cannot

1. 無理 (muri)

Translation: Impossible

The word むり (muri) literally means “impossible.” For example, if your friend asks if you can get to their house in 5 minutes but they live an hour away, you can say むり.

In English, this is like saying “no way” or “that’s impossible.”

2. ダメ (dame)

Translation: Not good

ダメ is usually translated into English as “no good”, “not allowed”, or “cannot”. It can be used in a variety of situations including saying “no” more directly in Japanese such as:

A: Is it okay if I eat in your room? 「あなたの部屋(へや)にたべてもいいですか？」anatono heya ni tabetemo iidesuka?

B: No, you may not. 「だめです。」damedesu.

3. できない (dekinai)

Translation: Cannot

できない is less definite. The word shows the speaker’s regret that the circumstances would not allow acting in accordance with one’s request. Always keep in mind, these expressions are rarely if ever heard as a response to a request in business-related situations.

Learning Japanese can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone! Check out our Coto Academy courses to learn how to speak Japanese in real-life situations.

Inquire now and take the first step!

How To Say No In Japanese For A Business Context

Saying “no” in Japanese when you are speaking with a client or company partner is even more tricky. In general, people can use these three expressions:

• 厳(きび)しい – (Kibishii)- Hard (conditions)
• 難(むずか)しい – (Muzukashii)- Difficult
• 大変(たいへん) – (Taihen)- Hard (task)

These expressions seem to have similar translations in English but each carry different nuances.

1. 厳しい(kibishii) & 難しい(muzukashii)

Translation: Strict and difficult

Saying 難しい (muzukashii) in response to a request is essentially an indirect and polite way to say no in Japanese. 厳しい(Kibishii) also serves a similar role to muzukashii when wanting to say no indirectly.

2. 大変 (taihen)

Translation: Tough, difficult, hard

たいへん (taihen), on the other hand, refers to a suggestion or request that is not easy because of a situation’s complexity. The word has similar meaning to むずかしい (muzukashii), but is often used for situations or experiences rather than just problems.

The term たいへん can be subjective and creates ambiguity amongst the parties involved in various business relations.

Speaking Japanese in a formal capacity can seem overwhelming and full of nuances to be aware of. So, read our Introduction to Japanese Keigo to overcome that fear of speaking out of turn in delicate situations.

Other Ways To Indirectly Say No In Japanese

Other ways to say “no” in Japanese include:

• 微妙(びみょう) – (Bimiyoe)- Delicate (situation)
• 忙(いそが)しい – (Isogashii)- Too busy
• 結構(けっこう)です – (Kekkoedesu)- No thank you

These words tend to dwell in the grey areas of meaning and interpreting. Even native Japanese speakers could misinterpret the signals these words are meant to express. But it’s possible the ambiguity is intentional to avoid commitment or disrupting harmony when multiple parties are involved in the decision-making.

1. 微妙 (bimiyoe)

Translation: Subtle, delicate, tricky

びみょう expresses a borderline scenario where neither party can express certainty of what will play out. Despite the underlying uncertainty hinted in びみょう, more often than not, the speaker means to decline.

2. 結構です (kekkou)

Translation: Enough

The Japanese expression けっこうです may be the greyest of these expressions. The term can have complete opposite meanings such as an affirmative “ok” or a negative “no thank you”.

Read More: Japanese Words with Multiple Meanings.

3. 忙しい (isogashii)

Translation: Busy

Now, this brings us to いそがしい, typically used as an excuse to decline a request. Therefore, people usually take it as a decline to an invitation and don’t bother asking to reschedule despite いそがしい literally meaning “busy”.

Showing Uncertainty To Indirectly Say No In Japanese

• …かもしれません / かもしれない / かも – (…kamo shiremasen)- Perhaps
• 多分(たぶん) – (tabun)- Maybe or probably
• 臨機応変 [りんきおうへん] に対応 [たいおう] する – (rinkiouhen ni taio suru)- Depends

If you thought, there weren’t enough ambiguous expressions for saying no in Japanese, above are a few more. However, these terms leave potential for an affirmative response. Initially, when someone uses these expressions, it may seem they are denying your request, however, they are actually expressing uncertainty of the current circumstances which could change in the future.

1. かもしれません / かもしれない / かも (kamoshiremasen / kamoshirenai / kamo)

Translation: Maybe, might, possibly

かもしれません and all of its variations communicates a certain level of uncertainty like saying “maybe” or “perhaps”. This expression is more of a clause that attaches to verbs or nouns. So, if you want to say “I probably can’t make it” you would attach かもしれない to いけない by saying “いけないかもしれない”. This expresses a higher probability that you can’t make it while being open to the possibly that you can.

In the video above, Yuka-sensei will introduce you a more in-depth explanation on how to use かもしれない!

2. 多分 (tabun)

Translation: Maybe

たぶん is similar to かもしれない since it also conveys uncertainty. The difference here is that 多分 doesn’t attach to other words and can be used more flexibly. Below could be some instances of how to use たぶん:

Using Tabun When Refusing,

A: Can you make it? いけますか？ ikemasuka?

B: Maybe, I cannot. 多分、いけません。tabun, ikemasen.

Using Tabun When Affirming,

A: Is that a dog? 「それはいぬですか？」 sore wa inu desu ka

B: I think so. 「多分そうでしょう。」tabun soudeshou

3. 臨機応変に対応する(rinkiouhen ni taiyou suru)

Translation: Let’s play it by the ear

The expression, “りんきおうへんにたいおうする” is similar to the English expression: let’s play it by ear. This expression is often used to postpone difficult decisions at business meetings when the voting is not unanimous.

Closing Thoughts On Saying No In Japanese

As you can see, saying “no” in Japanese is a tricky ordeal: ambiguous and subject to lots of interpretation (and misinterpretation). Due to Japanese culture’s emphasis on politeness and avoidance of offending the other party, indirect and high context expressions became prevalent in the language.

So, that is why saying “no” in Japanese is more indirect and ambiguous. Navigating these social norms may seem overwhelming at first but with just a bit of practice you’ll start to develop a sense of how to communicate “no” in Japanese very comfortably.

What is the word for "No" in Japanese?

The direct translation for “no” in Japanese is 「いいえ」(iie). But there are many ways one can say “no” especially to be more polite in more formal or delicate situations.

What is a polite way to say "no" in Japanese?

There are many ways to say “no” politely in Japanese, such as simply saying “chotto” which implies the request is a bit difficult to fulfill.

In a situation when denying someone kindly offering something like a food or drink, you could say “kekkou desu” or even “daijoubu desu”. In a more formal context, saying “kibishii” or “muzukashii” would be a polite way of saying “no”.

Do Japanese People Never Say "No"? Do they say something else instead?

Japanese do say “no” but tend to do so in more indirect ways to avoid conflict. They don’t want to seem rude or outright decline someone. So, a few common phrases instead of a direct “no” include,

• 結構です (kekkou desu): It’s okay or I’m fine
• 厳しい (kibishii): tough/difficult situation
• 忙しい (isogashii): I’m busy

Do you know how to say “yes” beyond “hai” in Japanese, learn different expressions for “yes” with our blog: How to Say Yes in Japanese: 10 Essential Ways with Examples!