Textbook yes/no vs natural replies
By the end you'll sound less stiff.
- 1
ええ ee
はい is textbook 'yes' but sounds stiff in casual conversation. ええ is the softer, more natural 'yes' Japanese people actually use with friends and colleagues.
Use when casual agreement, responding to a friend, soft confirmation
ええ、そうですね。 ee, sō desu ne.
Yeah, that's right.
- 2
ちょっと… chotto...
いいえ is textbook 'no' but sounds overly formal and blunt. ちがいます (that's different) is softer when correcting, and ちょっと... (a little...) trails off naturally to decline.
Use when declining softly, hedging, not directly saying no
ちょっと… chotto...
Hmm, that's a little...
- 3
うん un
うん is the casual 'yeah' or 'uh-huh' used constantly between friends. Much more natural than はい in relaxed settings.
Use when chatting with friends, casual agreement, quick acknowledgment
うん、そうしよう。 un, sō shiyō.
Yeah, let's do that.
Saved phrases collect at practice → saved; quiz them and they enter your review queue.