JLPT N5 grammar · The Absolute Basics
はい/いいえ: meaning, usage and examples
はい/いいえ means: yes/no.
How to form it
はい / いいえ (standalone or followed by sentence)
Examples
A: あなたは日本人ですか。B: いいえ、違います。
A: Are you Japanese? B: No, I'm not (that's incorrect).
A: それはペンですか。B: はい、そうです。
A: Is that a pen? B: Yes, it is.
A: これは日本の車ですか。B: いいえ、ドイツの車です。
A: Is this a Japanese car? B: No, it’s a German car.
A: 明日、学校に行きますか。B: はい、行きます。
A: Are you going to school tomorrow? B: Yes, I am.
When to use it
Use はい to affirm and いいえ to deny. In Japanese, the answer aligns with the truth of the situation, not the structure of the question.
Nuance
When a negative question is asked ('Isn't it?'), はい means 'Yes, it isn't' and いいえ means 'No, it is': opposite of English instinct.
Compare
ええ is a softer, more casual yes. うん is very casual yes; ううん is casual no.
Tip: Watch negative questions on JLPT: many test-takers pick the wrong はい/いいえ answer.
More in The Absolute Basics
- ~です: to be/ it is (polite)
- ~じゃありません: to not be / it is not (polite)
- ~ですか: (indicates question: sentence end)
- そうです: (answer) it is/that's right
- こ/そ/あ/ど (demonstrative prefixes): こ: Something near to the speaker; そ: Something near to the listener; あ: Something far away from both speaker and listener; ど: Something the speaker doesn't see or know about.
- これ/それ/あれ/どれ: This, that, that one over there, which
- この/その/あの/どの [Noun]: this/that/that (over there)/which [Noun]
- ここ/そこ/あそこ/どこ: Here, there, over there, where
Frequently asked questions
What does はい/いいえ mean?
Yes/no. Example: A: あなたは日本人ですか。B: いいえ、違います。 (A: Are you Japanese? B: No, I'm not (that's incorrect).)
How do you form はい/いいえ?
はい / いいえ (standalone or followed by sentence). Watch negative questions on JLPT: many test-takers pick the wrong はい/いいえ answer.