Common Japanese Filler Words

Fillers words in Japanese

Here are some of the most common filler words you will encounter:

1. あの/ ano

すみません。あのー東京駅はどこですか？
sumimasen. anoーtoukyou eki wa doko desu ka?
“Excuse me. Um… where is Tokyo Station?”

=> This is often used at the start of a sentence when trying to get someone’s attention, as in “Excuse me”. It is also often used instead of “um” in the middle of speech.

2. はい・ええ・うん (hai/ ee / un)

=> As in “yes”, but really just used to indicate that you are listening (think “uh-huh” in English).

3. そうですね/ sou desu ne

=>This phrase (and variants of it) can have many purposes. In the context of a conversation it often means “yes, I hear your point of view”.
It can also be used when someone has asked a question and you are thinking of an answer (like えぇと below).

4. えぇと/ eeto

=> This little word is basically used in place of “Hmm” or “let me see”, ie. used when thinking about what to say next.

5. へー・えー・うわ (hee / eee/ uwa)

=> Used when expressing surprise and/or shock at something

6. 本当（ほんとう）・まじで (hontou/ majide)

=> Both of these phrases mean “really” used to express surprise. まじで is more casual sounding of the two.

7. なるほど・そうなんです (naruhodo / sou nan desu)

=> Used when you have been given an explanation for something – could be translated along the lines of “I see”, “I get it” or “That makes sense”.

8. やっぱり/ yappari

=> やっぱり is a more casual form of やはり. It is often used in response to something you expected to hear.
This word can have different nuances depending on the situation – this post by Maggie Sensei explains it better than I can!

9. 確かに（たしかに）/ tashika ni

=> This phrase means “surely” or “certainly” and shows that you agree with the speaker’s opinion.

10. その通り（そのとおり）/ sonotoori

=> This is used to express agreement what the other speaker has said and has the meaning of “exactly” or “that’s right”.

11. うーん / uun

うーん . . . 赤いものが好きです。 (うーん . . . あかいものがすきです。)
Umm… I like the red one.

=>If thinking had a sound, it would be うーん.

When you’re not sure what to say, you’re stalling for time or you haven’t come up with an answer or decision, use this handy filler word. It’s the equivalent of the English “Ummm…”

12. And then ? – それから、(sorekara)

お風呂に入り、それから寝なさい。(おふろにはいり、それからねなさい。)
(ofuro ni hairi , sorekara nenasai.)
Take a bath and then go to bed

13. I see, right, oh, Ok, gotcha – そっか、(sokka)

そっか、ウィリさんはようやく納得した。(そっか、ウィリさんはようやくなっとくした。)
(sokka, willie san wa youyaku nattokushita.)
I see, mr. willer finally agreed.

14. something Like, you know, things like – なんか、( nanka )

ゲームなんか興味ないよ。(ゲームなんかきょうみないよ。)
( ge-mu nanka kyoumi nai yo.)
I am not interested in something like games.

Related Post:
Useful Japanese Phrases to Use when Shopping
How do you say ” I’m late” in Japanese