ええ

also: えー · えーー · えーっ

え

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 1,000

Meanings

Polite affirmative interjection, similar to はい but softer and more casual. Common in Kansai and other western dialects, but also used in standard Japanese in informal settings.

「これ、あなたのですか？」「ええ、そうです。」
"Is this yours?" "Yes, it is."
ええ、かまいませんよ。
Yes, I don't mind at all.

interjection

um; well; err

Hesitation filler used when pausing to think or when searching for words. Often elongated as えーと or えーっと.

えー、何なにから話はなせばいいかな。
Um, where should I start?
えーと、次つぎの会かい議ぎはいつでしたっけ。
Err, when was the next meeting again?

interjection

huh?; what?

Expresses surprise, confusion, or a request for clarification. Often with rising intonation.

えー？本ほん当とうにそう言いったの？
Huh? Did he really say that?
えー、どういうこと？
What? What do you mean?

interjection

grrr; gah; must I?

Expresses frustration, reluctance, or mild complaint. Often drawn out as えーーっ.

えー、また残ざん業ぎょうかよ。
Gah, overtime again?
えー、宿しゅく題だいやらなきゃいけないの？
Must I really do my homework?

noun-modifying (irregular)

good

Kansai dialect adjective meaning 'good', equivalent to standard 良い. Used prenominally (before nouns).

Related words

はいN5sense 1
はい is the standard, more formal way to say 'yes', while ええ is softer and more casual, common in relaxed or western-dialect speech.
良よいN5sense 5
良い is the standard Japanese word for 'good', while ええ is its Kansai dialect equivalent used before nouns.
うんN4sense 1
うん is a very casual, blunt 'yeah' used with close friends or family, while ええ is a bit more polite and can be used in semi-formal contexts.
はあN3
ええ is a casual affirmative like はあ, but ええ sounds a bit more engaged and conversational, while はあ can sound more distracted or uncertain.
あのN5
えー is a more casual, sometimes hesitant filler similar to English 'uh', whereas あの can also serve to politely preface a request or statement.

Opposites

いいえN5sense 1
いいえ is the polite 'no' that directly opposes the affirmative ええ ('yes').

Don't confuse with

えっN5
ええ is most often used to mean 'yes' or a mild acknowledgment, whereas えっ specifically signals surprise or disbelief, so learners must not swap them.

Written forms

ええUsage83%
Standard spelling for the affirmative interjection and the Kansai dialect adjective. It is the usual form for senses 1 and 5.
えーUsage12%
Common spelling for the filler, questioning, and exasperation interjections. It is the usual form for senses 2, 3, and 4.
えーっUsage2%
search-only kana form
Search-only form with a small tsu; not a standard written variant.
エエUsage1%
エーUsage1%
エーッUsage1%

Etymology

The affirmative interjection ええ likely developed as a softened variant of はい or as a natural vocalization. The Kansai adjective ええ is a dialectal contraction of 良い (よい).