Japanese · Greetings & Phrases
いいえ
iie
No
Beginnerinterjection
Definition
The standard negative response in Japanese. In casual speech, いや (iya) or ううん (uun) are also used.
Example
いいえ、結構です。
No, I am fine (no thank you).
Etymology
'いいえ' (iie) originates from older Japanese dialects where 'い' (i) is a form of 'to be' or 'exist', used negatively to indicate denial.
How & Where It’s Used
'いいえ' is a standard negation used in both formal and informal contexts. It is mainly employed in spoken language and conversation.