Japanese word

いやいや

Pronunciation

Romajiiyaiya

Meaning

  • interjectionnot at all

Example

いやいや、そんなことはありません。i ya i ya so n na ko to wa a ri ma se n

Not at all. That's not the case.

Illustration for いやいや (not at all)

More examples

いやいや、そんなに褒めないでください。i ya i ya so n na ni ho me na i de ku da sa i

No, no, please do not praise me so much.

Core concept

Signals that the speaker rejects the preceding statement while keeping the exchange informal and relatively gentle.

Common phrases

  • いやいや、とんでもないi ya i ya to n de mo na i

    No, not at all

Similar words

いやiya: An informal interjection that denies or rejects a preceding statement.
いえいえieie: A polite interjection used to modestly deny a statement, praise, or thanks.

Definition in Japanese

相手の言ったことを、強く違うと否定する気持ちを表す語。ai te no i tta ko to o tsuyo ku chiga u to hi tei su ru ki mo chi o arawa su go

Word origin

The interjection いやいや (iyaiya) repeats いや (iya, "no"), a form that gives a stronger but often less abrupt denial.

Usage tips

  • Although it can translate as "not at all," いやいや (iyaiya) usually denies what someone has just said and does not mean agreement or acceptance.

Other meanings

  • no!interjection
  • reluctantlyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word