Use いいえ when you want to decline something in a courteous way.
Use いいえ when you want to decline something in a courteous way.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| いいえ、ちょっと無理です。 | ううん、ちょっと無理です。 |
| いいえ、そうですか。 | はい、そうですか。 |
| いいえ、ありがとう。 | いい、ありがとう。 |
| いいえ、どうぞ。 | どうぞ、お願いします。 |
Use いいえ to humbly reject praise or to say you didn't do something.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| いいえ、私がやったんです。 | いいえ、私がやったわけではありません。 |
| いいえ、すごいですね。 | はい、すごいですね。 |
| いいえ、そんなことはありません。 | そうです、そんなことはありません。 |
| いいえ、ありがとう。 | どういたしまして、ありがとう。 |
Use いいえ for formal refusals and modest denials, choosing a more casual ううん when speaking informally.
Using いいえ in informal chats can sound overly formal, while using ううん in polite contexts sounds rude.
From the adjective いい ‘good’ combined with the negative particle え, historically forming a polite negative.
What does いいえ mean?
いいえ means “no” or a polite refusal.
When should I use いいえ instead of ううん?
Use いいえ in formal or polite situations; ううん is for casual speech.
Can いいえ be used to reject a compliment?
Yes, it can modestly deny a compliment, often followed by a humble phrase.
Is いいえ considered rude?
No, it is polite; rudeness comes from using it in overly casual contexts.
What is the opposite of いいえ?
The opposite is はい, meaning “yes”.
Does いいえ have any other meanings?
It is mainly an interjection for negation, with no major additional senses.
How is いいえ written in kanji?
It is usually written in hiragana as いいえ; there is no common kanji form.
Can I use いいえ at the end of a sentence?
Yes, it can stand alone or precede a clause to negate it.
Is いいえ used in business Japanese?
Yes, it is the standard polite way to decline offers or requests in business settings.