1.
ready consent; immediate agreement
Agreeing immediately without hesitation, as if answering 'yes, yes' (saying はい twice). Used to describe enthusiastic or unhesitating acceptance of a request or proposal.
彼は二つ返事で引き受けた。
He accepted without hesitation.
旅行に誘ったら、二つ返事でOKしてくれた。
When I invited her on a trip, she immediately said yes.
給料アップの話を聞いて、二つ返事で転職を決めた。
After hearing about the salary increase, he decided to change jobs without a second thought.
USAGE:
Most commonly appears in the pattern 二つ返事で (with ready consent). The expression comes from the idea of answering 'はい、はい' (yes, yes) — responding so quickly that you say yes twice. Always implies a positive, willing response.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 二つ返事で引き受ける (to accept readily)
- 二つ返事でOKする (to immediately agree)
- 二つ返事で承諾する (to consent without hesitation)
NOTE:
Despite 二つ meaning 'two,' this expression is positive. In everyday speech, saying はい twice (はいはい) can sound dismissive, but 二つ返事 as an idiom means enthusiastic agreement.