{"id":62708,"date":"2019-01-10T13:06:03","date_gmt":"2019-01-10T04:06:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cotoacademy.com\/saying-no-japanese\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T16:36:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T07:36:26","slug":"saying-no-japanese-polite-way-decline-refuse-offers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cotoacademy.com\/ja\/saying-no-japanese-polite-way-decline-refuse-offers\/","title":{"rendered":"No in Japanese: Politely Declining or Refusing Offers in Japanese"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There are abundant ways to say “no” in Japanese. Today, I will be sharing 10 ways which you can use to reject an offer or say no politely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. \u3044\u3044\u3048\u30fciie<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is one of the most common ways to say “no” in Japanese. It is not too casual<\/a> and does not come across as too harsh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example:
A: \u671d\u3054\u98ef\u3092\u98df\u3079\u307e\u3057\u305f\u304b\uff1f(Asa gohan o tabemashita ka) – Have you had your breakfast?
B: \u3044\u3044\u3048\u3001\u307e\u3060\u98df\u3079\u3066\u3044\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002(Iie, mada tabeteimasen) – No, I have not eaten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. \u3061\u3087\u3063\u3068\u3002\u3002\u3002\u30fc Chotto…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a polite way to reject an offer from someone whom you are not particularly close. For example, someone whom you have just met or a colleague at work<\/a>. Check out more Japanese “tto” words like this one here<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example:
A: \u4eca\u65e5\u3001\u6669\u3054\u98ef\u3092\u4e00\u7dd2\u306b\u98df\u3079\u307e\u305b\u3093\u304b\uff1f(Kyou, ban gohan o isshoni tabemasenka) – Shall we eat dinner together today?
B: \u7528\u4e8b\u304c\u3042\u308b\u306e\u3067\u3001\u3061\u3087\u3063\u3068\u3002\u3002\u3002(Youji ga aru node, chotto…) – I have some things to do so…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. \u305d\u3046\u3067\u3082\u306a\u3044\u30fcSou demo nai<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This phrase when translated is “not really”. This is commonly used as a connector to state your point of view when you are trying to express an opposing opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Example:
A: \u3053\u306e\u30b7\u30e3\u30c4\u306f\u79c1\u306b\u306f\u4f3c\u5408\u3044\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f(Kono shatsu wa watashi ni wa niaimasu ka) – Does this shirt look good on me?
B: \u305d\u3046\u3067\u3082\u306a\u3044\u2026(Sou demo nai) – Not really…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. \u9055\u3044\u307e\u3059\u30fcChigai masu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Using \u9055\u3044\u307e\u3059 to say no shows that you are not entirely denying or flatly saying no to the other party but instead trying to imply that you have a different take on the situation or topic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is another form for \u9055\u3044\u307e\u3059 and that is “\u9055\u3046” which used more commonly used among family and friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Example:
A: \u3053\u306e\u554f\u984c\u306e\u7b54\u3048\u306f “A” \u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\uff1f(Kono mondai no kotae wa “A” deshou) – The answer to this question is A right?
B: \u9055\u3044\u307e\u3059\uff01”B” \u3067\u3059\u3002(Chigai masu! “B” desu) – No, it’s B.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. \u3046\u3046\u3093\u30fcUun<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a very casual way of saying no. It is commonly used only between friends<\/a> and family, or people that you are familiar with. When speaking in a conversation with someone of a higher rank or seniority, definitely do not use this.
A: \u925b\u7b46\u3042\u308b? (Enpitsu aru) – Do you have a pencil?
B: \u3046\u3046\u3093\u3002(Uun) – Nope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. \u305d\u3046\u306f\u601d\u308f\u306a\u3044\u30fcSou wa omowanai<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This phrase is quite a strong expression and not exactly polite in expressing disagreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Example:
A: \u6226\u4e89\u306b\u884c\u304d\u305f\u3044\u3002(Senso ni ikitai) – I want to go to war.
B: \u305d\u3046\u306f\u601d\u308f\u306a\u3044\u3002(Sou wa omowanai) – I don’t think so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. \u3044\u3044\u3048\u3001\u7d50\u69cb\u3067\u3059\u30fcIie, Kekkou desu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is the same as saying “No, thank you”. It is not often used by the Japanese when invited out by friends. This is more commonly used when expressing a no indefinitely but is not very friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Example:
A: \u30b3\u30fc\u30d2\u30fc\u306b\u30df\u30eb\u30af\u3068\u7802\u7cd6\u306f\u3044\u308a\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f(C\u014dh\u012b ni miruku to sat\u014d wa irimasuka?) – Would you like sugar and milk?
B: \u3044\u3044\u3048\u3001\u7d50\u69cb\u3067\u3059\u3002(Iie, Kekkou desu) – No, thank you. I’ve had enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. \u3044\u3044\u3048\u3001\u5927\u4e08\u592b\u3067\u3059\u30fcIie, Daijyoubu desu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you use this phrase to politely reject someone, it implies “No, It’s fine”. It is a polite phrase that can be used when turning down someone’s invitation or offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Example:
A: \u4eca\u591c\u306f\u307f\u3093\u306a\u98f2\u307f\u306b\u51fa\u304b\u3051\u307e\u3059\u3088\u3002\u4e00\u7dd2\u306b\u53c2\u52a0\u3057\u307e\u305b\u3093\u304b\uff1f\uff08Kon ya wa minna nomi ni dekake masu yo. Isshoni sanka shimasen ka) – Everyone is going out for drinks tonight. Would you like to join?
B: \u3044\u3044\u3048\u3001\u5927\u4e08\u592b\u3067\u3059\u3002(Iie, daijyoubu desu) – No, it’s fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. \u3044\u3044\u3048\u3001\u79c1\u306f\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u3092\u8a71\u3059\u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u307e\u305b\u3093\u30fcIie, Watashi wa nihongo o hanasukoto ga dekimasen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This reply tells the other party that you either don’t understand or can’t speak Japanese fluently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Example:
A: \u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u304c\u308f\u304b\u308a\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f(Nihongo ga wakarimasu ka) – Do you understand Japanese?
B: \u3044\u3044\u3048\u3001\u79c1\u306f\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u3092\u8a71\u3059\u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002(Iie, watashi wa nihongo o hanasukoto ga dekimasen) – No, I can’t converse fluently in Japanese.
If you want to speak fluent Japanese, checkout our Japanese Courses<\/a> offered by Coto Japanese Academy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. \u305f\u3076\u3093\u30fcTabun<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is used when you are uncertain and do not want to directly say no. As circumstances can change at an unforeseen time in the future, this expression is similar to saying “maybe”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Example:
A: \u3053\u306e\u9031\u672b\u3001\u30c8\u30ec\u30fc\u30cb\u30f3\u30b0\u306b\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f(Kono shumatsu, toreningu ni ikimasu ka) – Will you be going for training this weekend?
B: \u305f\u3076\u3093\u884c\u304b\u306a\u3044\u3002(Tabun ikanai) – Maybe not.
Some other ways that you can say no can be found here.<\/a>
For “No” related phrases, find out more here<\/a>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

More in Our “How to” Series:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

How to say “you are welcome” in Japanese<\/a>
How to refer to yourself in Japanese<\/a>
How to refer to other people in Japanese<\/a>
How to use “yoroshiku-onegaishimasu”<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are interested in studying Japanese in Tokyo, find out more about our school by filling out the form below.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t