Before we begin, it’s important to know that all of the expressions in this article are casual Japanese. You’ll often hear them in conversations with friends, family members, and people you know well.
These expressions are short, but Japanese people use them constantly. Knowing the difference will help you understand conversations more easily—and make your own Japanese sound much more natural.
When learning Japanese, you may hear these expressions all the time:
うん
ううん
うーん
うんうん
They sound similar, but they have completely different meanings!
うん (un) — Yes / Yeah
This is a casual way to say “yes.”
Example:
A: 明日ひま？
(Ashita hima? – Are you free tomorrow?)B: うん。
(Un. – Yeah.)
You can think of うん as the casual version of はい.
ううん (uun) — No
This is a casual way to say “no.”
Example:
A: コーヒー飲む？
(Kōhī nomu? – Do you want coffee?)B: ううん。
(Uun. – No.)
Be careful! It sounds very similar to うん, but it means the exact opposite.
うーん (ūn) — Hmm...
This expression shows that you’re thinking, hesitating, or not sure.
Example:
A: どっちがいい？
(Docchi ga ii? – Which one is better?)B: うーん…。
(Ūn... – Hmm...)
Japanese speakers often use this when considering something carefully.
うんうん (un un) — Uh-huh / I see
This expression is often used while listening to someone.
It doesn’t simply mean “yes.” Instead, it shows that you’re following the conversation and understanding what the other person is saying.
Example:
A: 昨日、駅で友達に会ったんだ。
(Kinō, eki de tomodachi ni attanda. – Yesterday, I ran into a friend at the station.)B: うんうん。
(Un un. – Uh-huh. / I see.)
You’ll hear Japanese people use うんうん frequently during conversations to show they are listening.
These small sounds may look similar, but mastering them will make your Japanese sound much more natural.
Next time you watch anime, a drama, or talk with a Japanese friend, listen carefully—you’ll probably hear all four!
A Small Gift for You 🎁
Want to use these expressions in your own Slack workspace?
We’ve created a set of Japanese reaction emojis for Slack, including the four expressions we introduced in this article.
Feel free to download and use them in your own Slack workspace!
👉 Download the Japanese Slack Emoji Set
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Our JLPT Preparation Course starts this September! If you’re looking for some extra support as you prepare for the exam, you can find all the course details and registration information in the article above.
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