[✐3] When yes not yes is. はい/うん、いいえ/ううん
[00:07]
Hello everyone. How are you doing? Still many people are confused with “Yes” and “No” in Japanese. Sometimes “Yes” can mean “No,” depending on the context, and vice versa.
[00:21]
We start with quiz. Firstly, please listen to the example.
Example:
Hanako san, don’t you go to the party?
Hanako: Iie … I dare not to write No.
→ Hanako san is;
a) going to the party.
b) not going to the party.
[00:37]
Is the answer a) or b)? The answer is a). Here, “iie” negates the statement “don’t go to the party”, so it means “go to the party”.
Ready?
[00:52]
Quiz 1
Hanako san, don’t you eat breakfast?
Hanako: hai
→ Hanako san
a) eats breakfast.
b) doesn’t eat breakfast.
[01:07]
Quiz 2
Hanako san, you didn’t make it in time to the meeting, didn’t you?
Hanako: iie
→ Hanako san
a) was on time for the meeting.
b) was late for the meeting.
[01:25]
Quiz 3
Hanako san, didn’t you go back to your parent’s home at the end of the year?
Hanako: hai
→ At the end of the year, Hanako san
a) went back to her parent’s home.
b) didn’t go back to her parent’s home
[01:42]
Quiz 4
Hanako san, don’t you like Karaoke?
Hanako: iie
→ Hanako san
a) likes Karaoke.
b) doesn’t like karaoke.
[01:57]
Quiz 5
Hanako san, don’t you sign up for the Japanese course?
Hanako: iie
→ Hanako san
a) will sign up for the Japanese course.
b) will not sign up for the Japanese course.
[02:19]
How was it? If you agree with what the other person said, you say “hai”. If not, you say ”iie”. Let’s check, and please repeat the Hanako san’s answer.
[02:33]
Quiz 1
Hanako san, don’t you eat breakfast?
→ b) No, I don’t eat breakfast.
[02:48]
Quiz 2
Hanako san, you didn’t make it in time to the meeting, didn’t you?
→ a) Yes, I was on time for the meeting.
[03:04]
Quiz 3
Hanako san, didn’t you go back to your parent’s home at the end of the year?
Hanako: hai
→ b) No, I didn’t go back to my parent’s home at the end of the year.
[03:23]
Quiz 4
Hanako san, don’t you like Karaoke?
→ a) Yes, I like karaoke.
[03:38]
Quiz 5
Hanako san, don’t you sign up for the Japanese course?
Hanako: iie
→ a) I’m going to sign up for the Japanese course.

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Note: English translations might sound occasionally unnatural as English, as I try to preserve the structure and essence of the original Japanese.