え

interjection

eh?; what?; oh?

Expresses surprise, confusion, or a request for clarification. Similar to English 'huh?' or 'what?'.

• え、本ほん当とうに？

  Eh, really?

• え、何なんて言いったの？

  Huh? What did you say?

interjection

yes; that's correct

A casual, sometimes abrupt affirmative response, often used in informal settings. Can sound blunt compared to はい.

See also: はい

• 「これ、君きみの？」「え。」

  "Is this yours?" "Yeah."

• 「明日あしたまでに終おわる？」「え、大だい丈じょう夫ぶ。」

  "Can you finish by tomorrow?" "Yeah, no problem."

particle

sentence-ending particle for emphasis

Archaic particle used at the end of a sentence to strengthen a question or assertion. Found in classical Japanese and older literary works.

See also: かい · ぞい · わい

• 「行ゆくえ」と言いえば、古こ風ふうな強きょう調ちょうになる。

  Adding え to '行く' makes it an old-fashioned emphatic form.

particle

hey (archaic call)

Archaic particle used after a noun or similar when calling out to someone, similar to 'hey' or 'oh'. Not used in modern speech.

• 古こ語ごでは「君きみえ」と呼よびかけることがある。

  In classical language, one might call out '君え' to address someone.