否(いや)

いや
interjection/noun
no, nay
1. no, nay
A negative response or refusal.
否(いや)、違(ちが)います。
No, that's not right.
賛成(さんせい)か否(いや)か。
For or against.
否(いや)、そうではなくて。
No, that's not it.
否(いや)と言(い)えない。
I can't say no.
否(いや)、彼(かれ)は正(ただ)しい。
No, he is right.
否(いや)、私(わたし)ではありません。
No, it wasn't me.
2. rather, or rather
Used to correct or reconsider what was said.
否(いや)、待(ま)って。
Wait, no.
Reconsidering
否(いや)、考(かんが)え直(なお)そう。
No wait, let me reconsider.
否(いや)、三人(さんにん)ではなく四人(よにん)だった。
No, rather it was four people, not three.
否(いや)、明日(あした)のほうがいい。
Actually, tomorrow would be better.
否(いや)、やっぱり今日(きょう)行(い)こう。明日(あした)は雨(あめ)かもしれない。
Actually, let's go today after all. It might rain tomorrow.

否(いや) means no or is used for self-correction.

USAGE:

  • More formal/literary than いいえ
  • Used for self-correction: "No wait, actually..."
  • In formal contexts: 賛否(さんぴ) (for and against)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • いいえ: no (polite, common)
  • 否(いや): no (formal, or self-correction)
  • いや (different): unpleasant, disagreeable

NOTE:

  • Context distinguishes from いや (unpleasant)
core
Added 2026.1.9 21:30 · Revised 2026.2.20 11:51
01500/01920_iya