1.
hmm; well...; let me see
A drawn-out sound expressing hesitation, thinking, or mild reluctance while one considers a question or problem.
A drawn-out vocalization showing that the speaker is thinking, hesitating, or reluctant. The long vowel signals that an answer is not coming immediately.
Usage
- Buying time to think before answering
- Expressing mild doubt or reluctance ('well, I'm not sure...')
- Reacting to something troubling or hard to decide
Similar words
- うん: yeah, mm — short; a casual 'yes' or simple acknowledgment
- えーと: um, let me see — filler used while searching for words
Related Words
Compare:
えーと (um, let me see)
Compare:
ふむ (hmm)
Compare:
ええと (well...)
Related:
うん (yeah, uh-huh)