Japanese word

いや

Pronunciation

Romajiiya

Meaning

  • interjectionno

Example

いや、違います。i ya chiga i ma su

No, that's not right.

Illustration for いや (no)

More examples

いや、まだ決めていません。i ya ma da ki me te i ma se n

No, I haven't decided yet.

Core concept

いや (iya) marks a speaker's rejection of a statement, suggestion, or situation.

Common phrases

  • いや、結構ですi ya kek kō de su

    No, thank you

Similar words

いいえiie: A polite interjection used to give a negative answer or reject a statement.
ううんūn: An informal interjection used to give a negative answer or show disagreement.
いやいやiyaiya: An interjection used to strongly reject a statement or correct a misunderstanding.

Definition in Japanese

相手の言葉や提案を打ち消し、そうではないという気持ちを表す語。ai te no koto ba ya tei an o u chi ke shi sō de wa na i to i u ki mo chi o arawa su go

Word origin

The interjection いや (iya, "no") comes from a native Japanese word meaning 嫌 (iya, "unpleasant"), linking refusal with rejection.

Usage tips

  • Speakers often use いや (iya) before giving a different view, so it can signal a correction rather than a simple refusal.

Opposites

Word lists with this word