へえ

also: へぇー

Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

Expresses mild surprise, interest, or skepticism in response to new information. Often used in casual conversation.

えっN5
えっ expresses sharp, sudden surprise or disbelief, while へえ conveys a softer, more curious or interested reaction to new information.
ほう
ほう is a somewhat old-fashioned or gruff exclamation of interest, while へえ is casual and commonly used by all ages in everyday conversation.
ふん
ふーん sounds more indifferent or unimpressed, while へえ shows genuine mild surprise or interest in what was just said.
いや
へえ expresses interested surprise or curiosity, while いや can also convey shock or admiration.
なんだ
へえ shows interested surprise at new information, while なんだ (なーんだ) shows surprise that resolves into disappointment or relief.

へえUsage68%
Standard hiragana spelling for this interjection.
へぇUsage15%
- へぇ
- へえ
  Small-kana variant, common in casual writing.
へーUsage11%
- へー
- へえ
  Katakana variant, often used in manga or casual writing for emphasis.
へぇーUsage4%
Small-kana with long vowel mark, used for drawn-out pronunciation.
ヘエUsage2%
ヘーUsage<1%

A natural exclamation; the exact origin is uncertain, but it likely developed as an onomatopoeic expression of mild surprise.