How to Say ‘Yes.’ in Japanese
はい。
はい。
💬 Usage Tip: [はい] is the standard “yes.” It can also mean “I’m listening / I understand,” not only agreement.
🇯🇵 In Japan: In Japanese conversations, people often say [はい] as an “I’m following you” signal (like backchanneling), so don’t be surprised if you hear it a lot.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
はいはい。
[hai]
yes
Polite yes. Used to answer questions directly and politely.
はい、べんきょうしています。
Yes, I’m studying.
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