What is the Japanese equivalent of “mhm”?












21














In English conversations, when I listen to someone speak, I have a habit of intermittently uttering "mhm" just to let the other person know I'm listening to what he/she is saying. Is there a Japanese equivalent of this? I'm thinking of "はい", but I don't know if it will come off as being too stiff.






conversations







share|improve this question


















  • 4




    I believe はい is somewhat formal. More casually, you can say ん. takoboto.jp/?w=2139720
    – leocreatini
    Nov 30 at 6:20






  • 2




    If you're interested, these "words" are called continuers in linguistics - glossary.sil.org/term/continuer
    – ymbirtt
    Nov 30 at 10:50
















21














In English conversations, when I listen to someone speak, I have a habit of intermittently uttering "mhm" just to let the other person know I'm listening to what he/she is saying. Is there a Japanese equivalent of this? I'm thinking of "はい", but I don't know if it will come off as being too stiff.






conversations







share|improve this question


















  • 4




    I believe はい is somewhat formal. More casually, you can say ん. takoboto.jp/?w=2139720
    – leocreatini
    Nov 30 at 6:20






  • 2




    If you're interested, these "words" are called continuers in linguistics - glossary.sil.org/term/continuer
    – ymbirtt
    Nov 30 at 10:50














21












21








21


6





In English conversations, when I listen to someone speak, I have a habit of intermittently uttering "mhm" just to let the other person know I'm listening to what he/she is saying. Is there a Japanese equivalent of this? I'm thinking of "はい", but I don't know if it will come off as being too stiff.






conversations







share|improve this question













In English conversations, when I listen to someone speak, I have a habit of intermittently uttering "mhm" just to let the other person know I'm listening to what he/she is saying. Is there a Japanese equivalent of this? I'm thinking of "はい", but I don't know if it will come off as being too stiff.






conversations




conversations






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Nov 30 at 5:52









PeaBrane

13517




13517








  • 4




    I believe はい is somewhat formal. More casually, you can say ん. takoboto.jp/?w=2139720
    – leocreatini
    Nov 30 at 6:20






  • 2




    If you're interested, these "words" are called continuers in linguistics - glossary.sil.org/term/continuer
    – ymbirtt
    Nov 30 at 10:50














  • 4




    I believe はい is somewhat formal. More casually, you can say ん. takoboto.jp/?w=2139720
    – leocreatini
    Nov 30 at 6:20






  • 2




    If you're interested, these "words" are called continuers in linguistics - glossary.sil.org/term/continuer
    – ymbirtt
    Nov 30 at 10:50








4




4




I believe はい is somewhat formal. More casually, you can say ん. takoboto.jp/?w=2139720
– leocreatini
Nov 30 at 6:20




I believe はい is somewhat formal. More casually, you can say ん. takoboto.jp/?w=2139720
– leocreatini
Nov 30 at 6:20




2




2




If you're interested, these "words" are called continuers in linguistics - glossary.sil.org/term/continuer
– ymbirtt
Nov 30 at 10:50




If you're interested, these "words" are called continuers in linguistics - glossary.sil.org/term/continuer
– ymbirtt
Nov 30 at 10:50










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















42














They're called aizuchi. はい is certainly one. うん is the more casual option. Wikipedia has the following:




In the Japanese language, Aizuchi (Japanese: 相槌 or あいづち, IPA: [aizu͍t͡ɕi]) are the frequent interjections during a conversation that indicate the listener is paying attention or understands the speaker. In linguistic terms, these are a form of phatic expression. Aizuchi are considered reassuring to the speaker, indicating that the listener is active and involved in the discussion.



Aizuchi are frequently misinterpreted by non-native speakers as the listener showing agreement or fully comprehending what is being said.



Common aizuchi include:




  • hai (はい), ee (ええ), or un (うん) (yes, with varying degrees of formality)

  • sō desu ne (そうですね) (I see.)

  • sō desu ka (そうですか) (is that so?)

  • hontō (本当), hontō ni (本当に), maji (マジ), or (in Kansai) honma (本真) (really)

  • naruhodo (なるほど) (I see, that's right)

  • nodding


These can be compared to English "yeah, yeah", "yeah, ok", "got it", "yep", "uhuh" or "go on", but are more pronounced and important in Japanese.







share|improve this answer

















  • 4




    so much more info than my answer! ^_^ I would give this two +1's if I could! I know these words, but could not have explained it like this. Please bold the part about misinterpretation and put it at the bottom for emphasis!!
    – ericfromabeno
    Nov 30 at 8:50






  • 1




    +1 joined the site just to +1 :D
    – phyrfox
    Nov 30 at 16:36






  • 1




    Intonation may be worth mentioning here as well. I am not entirely sure, but I think it’s similar in Japanese and Chinese: when saying ん or うん, you’d normally a falling tone, unlike ‘uh-huh’ or ‘mhm’ in English, which is pronounced with a rising tone at the end. I don’t know if this is as confusing to Japanese people, but Chinese people who have little exposure to English often interpret this rising tone as an indicator of a question – they think you didn’t understand and are asking for repetition, rather than encouraging continued speech.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Dec 2 at 14:07



















10














yes, one way of indicating that you are listening and the other person should continue talking is by saying "はい". However your habit of saying "mhm" would not be so out of place, actually. There is a Japanese equivalent in the ん sound. It's less "courteous" than saying "はい", but it is a typical "I'm listening" noise.



annnnnnd @leocreatini beat me to it in the comments :P






share|improve this answer

















  • 7




    excuse me, whoever keeps "dinging" me, but you do understand that downvotes are meant to indicate "answer is NOT USEFUL" .... my answer might not be AS useful as the better answer above, but it is definitely "useful". I don't think it deserves upvotes, but neither does it deserve a downvote.
    – ericfromabeno
    Nov 30 at 10:26











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2 Answers
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2 Answers
2






active

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42














They're called aizuchi. はい is certainly one. うん is the more casual option. Wikipedia has the following:




In the Japanese language, Aizuchi (Japanese: 相槌 or あいづち, IPA: [aizu͍t͡ɕi]) are the frequent interjections during a conversation that indicate the listener is paying attention or understands the speaker. In linguistic terms, these are a form of phatic expression. Aizuchi are considered reassuring to the speaker, indicating that the listener is active and involved in the discussion.



Aizuchi are frequently misinterpreted by non-native speakers as the listener showing agreement or fully comprehending what is being said.



Common aizuchi include:




  • hai (はい), ee (ええ), or un (うん) (yes, with varying degrees of formality)

  • sō desu ne (そうですね) (I see.)

  • sō desu ka (そうですか) (is that so?)

  • hontō (本当), hontō ni (本当に), maji (マジ), or (in Kansai) honma (本真) (really)

  • naruhodo (なるほど) (I see, that's right)

  • nodding


These can be compared to English "yeah, yeah", "yeah, ok", "got it", "yep", "uhuh" or "go on", but are more pronounced and important in Japanese.







share|improve this answer

















  • 4




    so much more info than my answer! ^_^ I would give this two +1's if I could! I know these words, but could not have explained it like this. Please bold the part about misinterpretation and put it at the bottom for emphasis!!
    – ericfromabeno
    Nov 30 at 8:50






  • 1




    +1 joined the site just to +1 :D
    – phyrfox
    Nov 30 at 16:36






  • 1




    Intonation may be worth mentioning here as well. I am not entirely sure, but I think it’s similar in Japanese and Chinese: when saying ん or うん, you’d normally a falling tone, unlike ‘uh-huh’ or ‘mhm’ in English, which is pronounced with a rising tone at the end. I don’t know if this is as confusing to Japanese people, but Chinese people who have little exposure to English often interpret this rising tone as an indicator of a question – they think you didn’t understand and are asking for repetition, rather than encouraging continued speech.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Dec 2 at 14:07
















42














They're called aizuchi. はい is certainly one. うん is the more casual option. Wikipedia has the following:




In the Japanese language, Aizuchi (Japanese: 相槌 or あいづち, IPA: [aizu͍t͡ɕi]) are the frequent interjections during a conversation that indicate the listener is paying attention or understands the speaker. In linguistic terms, these are a form of phatic expression. Aizuchi are considered reassuring to the speaker, indicating that the listener is active and involved in the discussion.



Aizuchi are frequently misinterpreted by non-native speakers as the listener showing agreement or fully comprehending what is being said.



Common aizuchi include:




  • hai (はい), ee (ええ), or un (うん) (yes, with varying degrees of formality)

  • sō desu ne (そうですね) (I see.)

  • sō desu ka (そうですか) (is that so?)

  • hontō (本当), hontō ni (本当に), maji (マジ), or (in Kansai) honma (本真) (really)

  • naruhodo (なるほど) (I see, that's right)

  • nodding


These can be compared to English "yeah, yeah", "yeah, ok", "got it", "yep", "uhuh" or "go on", but are more pronounced and important in Japanese.







share|improve this answer

















  • 4




    so much more info than my answer! ^_^ I would give this two +1's if I could! I know these words, but could not have explained it like this. Please bold the part about misinterpretation and put it at the bottom for emphasis!!
    – ericfromabeno
    Nov 30 at 8:50






  • 1




    +1 joined the site just to +1 :D
    – phyrfox
    Nov 30 at 16:36






  • 1




    Intonation may be worth mentioning here as well. I am not entirely sure, but I think it’s similar in Japanese and Chinese: when saying ん or うん, you’d normally a falling tone, unlike ‘uh-huh’ or ‘mhm’ in English, which is pronounced with a rising tone at the end. I don’t know if this is as confusing to Japanese people, but Chinese people who have little exposure to English often interpret this rising tone as an indicator of a question – they think you didn’t understand and are asking for repetition, rather than encouraging continued speech.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Dec 2 at 14:07














42












42








42






They're called aizuchi. はい is certainly one. うん is the more casual option. Wikipedia has the following:




In the Japanese language, Aizuchi (Japanese: 相槌 or あいづち, IPA: [aizu͍t͡ɕi]) are the frequent interjections during a conversation that indicate the listener is paying attention or understands the speaker. In linguistic terms, these are a form of phatic expression. Aizuchi are considered reassuring to the speaker, indicating that the listener is active and involved in the discussion.



Aizuchi are frequently misinterpreted by non-native speakers as the listener showing agreement or fully comprehending what is being said.



Common aizuchi include:




  • hai (はい), ee (ええ), or un (うん) (yes, with varying degrees of formality)

  • sō desu ne (そうですね) (I see.)

  • sō desu ka (そうですか) (is that so?)

  • hontō (本当), hontō ni (本当に), maji (マジ), or (in Kansai) honma (本真) (really)

  • naruhodo (なるほど) (I see, that's right)

  • nodding


These can be compared to English "yeah, yeah", "yeah, ok", "got it", "yep", "uhuh" or "go on", but are more pronounced and important in Japanese.







share|improve this answer












They're called aizuchi. はい is certainly one. うん is the more casual option. Wikipedia has the following:




In the Japanese language, Aizuchi (Japanese: 相槌 or あいづち, IPA: [aizu͍t͡ɕi]) are the frequent interjections during a conversation that indicate the listener is paying attention or understands the speaker. In linguistic terms, these are a form of phatic expression. Aizuchi are considered reassuring to the speaker, indicating that the listener is active and involved in the discussion.



Aizuchi are frequently misinterpreted by non-native speakers as the listener showing agreement or fully comprehending what is being said.



Common aizuchi include:




  • hai (はい), ee (ええ), or un (うん) (yes, with varying degrees of formality)

  • sō desu ne (そうですね) (I see.)

  • sō desu ka (そうですか) (is that so?)

  • hontō (本当), hontō ni (本当に), maji (マジ), or (in Kansai) honma (本真) (really)

  • naruhodo (なるほど) (I see, that's right)

  • nodding


These can be compared to English "yeah, yeah", "yeah, ok", "got it", "yep", "uhuh" or "go on", but are more pronounced and important in Japanese.








share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Nov 30 at 8:14









Em.

1,0411915




1,0411915








  • 4




    so much more info than my answer! ^_^ I would give this two +1's if I could! I know these words, but could not have explained it like this. Please bold the part about misinterpretation and put it at the bottom for emphasis!!
    – ericfromabeno
    Nov 30 at 8:50






  • 1




    +1 joined the site just to +1 :D
    – phyrfox
    Nov 30 at 16:36






  • 1




    Intonation may be worth mentioning here as well. I am not entirely sure, but I think it’s similar in Japanese and Chinese: when saying ん or うん, you’d normally a falling tone, unlike ‘uh-huh’ or ‘mhm’ in English, which is pronounced with a rising tone at the end. I don’t know if this is as confusing to Japanese people, but Chinese people who have little exposure to English often interpret this rising tone as an indicator of a question – they think you didn’t understand and are asking for repetition, rather than encouraging continued speech.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Dec 2 at 14:07














  • 4




    so much more info than my answer! ^_^ I would give this two +1's if I could! I know these words, but could not have explained it like this. Please bold the part about misinterpretation and put it at the bottom for emphasis!!
    – ericfromabeno
    Nov 30 at 8:50






  • 1




    +1 joined the site just to +1 :D
    – phyrfox
    Nov 30 at 16:36






  • 1




    Intonation may be worth mentioning here as well. I am not entirely sure, but I think it’s similar in Japanese and Chinese: when saying ん or うん, you’d normally a falling tone, unlike ‘uh-huh’ or ‘mhm’ in English, which is pronounced with a rising tone at the end. I don’t know if this is as confusing to Japanese people, but Chinese people who have little exposure to English often interpret this rising tone as an indicator of a question – they think you didn’t understand and are asking for repetition, rather than encouraging continued speech.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Dec 2 at 14:07








4




4




so much more info than my answer! ^_^ I would give this two +1's if I could! I know these words, but could not have explained it like this. Please bold the part about misinterpretation and put it at the bottom for emphasis!!
– ericfromabeno
Nov 30 at 8:50




so much more info than my answer! ^_^ I would give this two +1's if I could! I know these words, but could not have explained it like this. Please bold the part about misinterpretation and put it at the bottom for emphasis!!
– ericfromabeno
Nov 30 at 8:50




1




1




+1 joined the site just to +1 :D
– phyrfox
Nov 30 at 16:36




+1 joined the site just to +1 :D
– phyrfox
Nov 30 at 16:36




1




1




Intonation may be worth mentioning here as well. I am not entirely sure, but I think it’s similar in Japanese and Chinese: when saying ん or うん, you’d normally a falling tone, unlike ‘uh-huh’ or ‘mhm’ in English, which is pronounced with a rising tone at the end. I don’t know if this is as confusing to Japanese people, but Chinese people who have little exposure to English often interpret this rising tone as an indicator of a question – they think you didn’t understand and are asking for repetition, rather than encouraging continued speech.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 2 at 14:07




Intonation may be worth mentioning here as well. I am not entirely sure, but I think it’s similar in Japanese and Chinese: when saying ん or うん, you’d normally a falling tone, unlike ‘uh-huh’ or ‘mhm’ in English, which is pronounced with a rising tone at the end. I don’t know if this is as confusing to Japanese people, but Chinese people who have little exposure to English often interpret this rising tone as an indicator of a question – they think you didn’t understand and are asking for repetition, rather than encouraging continued speech.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 2 at 14:07











10














yes, one way of indicating that you are listening and the other person should continue talking is by saying "はい". However your habit of saying "mhm" would not be so out of place, actually. There is a Japanese equivalent in the ん sound. It's less "courteous" than saying "はい", but it is a typical "I'm listening" noise.



annnnnnd @leocreatini beat me to it in the comments :P






share|improve this answer

















  • 7




    excuse me, whoever keeps "dinging" me, but you do understand that downvotes are meant to indicate "answer is NOT USEFUL" .... my answer might not be AS useful as the better answer above, but it is definitely "useful". I don't think it deserves upvotes, but neither does it deserve a downvote.
    – ericfromabeno
    Nov 30 at 10:26
















10














yes, one way of indicating that you are listening and the other person should continue talking is by saying "はい". However your habit of saying "mhm" would not be so out of place, actually. There is a Japanese equivalent in the ん sound. It's less "courteous" than saying "はい", but it is a typical "I'm listening" noise.



annnnnnd @leocreatini beat me to it in the comments :P






share|improve this answer

















  • 7




    excuse me, whoever keeps "dinging" me, but you do understand that downvotes are meant to indicate "answer is NOT USEFUL" .... my answer might not be AS useful as the better answer above, but it is definitely "useful". I don't think it deserves upvotes, but neither does it deserve a downvote.
    – ericfromabeno
    Nov 30 at 10:26














10












10








10






yes, one way of indicating that you are listening and the other person should continue talking is by saying "はい". However your habit of saying "mhm" would not be so out of place, actually. There is a Japanese equivalent in the ん sound. It's less "courteous" than saying "はい", but it is a typical "I'm listening" noise.



annnnnnd @leocreatini beat me to it in the comments :P






share|improve this answer












yes, one way of indicating that you are listening and the other person should continue talking is by saying "はい". However your habit of saying "mhm" would not be so out of place, actually. There is a Japanese equivalent in the ん sound. It's less "courteous" than saying "はい", but it is a typical "I'm listening" noise.



annnnnnd @leocreatini beat me to it in the comments :P







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Nov 30 at 6:21









ericfromabeno

3,5821521




3,5821521








  • 7




    excuse me, whoever keeps "dinging" me, but you do understand that downvotes are meant to indicate "answer is NOT USEFUL" .... my answer might not be AS useful as the better answer above, but it is definitely "useful". I don't think it deserves upvotes, but neither does it deserve a downvote.
    – ericfromabeno
    Nov 30 at 10:26














  • 7




    excuse me, whoever keeps "dinging" me, but you do understand that downvotes are meant to indicate "answer is NOT USEFUL" .... my answer might not be AS useful as the better answer above, but it is definitely "useful". I don't think it deserves upvotes, but neither does it deserve a downvote.
    – ericfromabeno
    Nov 30 at 10:26








7




7




excuse me, whoever keeps "dinging" me, but you do understand that downvotes are meant to indicate "answer is NOT USEFUL" .... my answer might not be AS useful as the better answer above, but it is definitely "useful". I don't think it deserves upvotes, but neither does it deserve a downvote.
– ericfromabeno
Nov 30 at 10:26




excuse me, whoever keeps "dinging" me, but you do understand that downvotes are meant to indicate "answer is NOT USEFUL" .... my answer might not be AS useful as the better answer above, but it is definitely "useful". I don't think it deserves upvotes, but neither does it deserve a downvote.
– ericfromabeno
Nov 30 at 10:26


















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