When you hear 「ええっ」 (eeh), it’s like someone saying “Eh?!” in English, but with a bit more emphasis. It’s an exclamation used when you’re really surprised or slightly shocked by something you’ve just heard or seen. Think of it as a sharper intake of breath combined with a questioning tone. You might use it if someone tells you unexpected news, or if something out of the ordinary happens.
It’s stronger than a simple 「え」 (e), which is just a general acknowledgment or a mild “huh?” 「ええっ」 suggests a more significant reaction, showing that something has truly caught you off guard. Mastering this helps you sound more natural when reacting to unexpected information in Japanese conversations.
When you hear 「ええっ」 (eeh), it's often a sign of strong surprise, disbelief, or even a mild shock from the speaker. It's similar to saying "Eh?!" or "What?!" in English, but with a more pronounced emotional impact.
You might hear it when someone receives unexpected news, sees something astonishing, or is caught off guard. It's distinct from a simple 「え？」 (e?) which is a more neutral "Huh?" or "Pardon?".
Pay attention to the intonation; a rising tone usually indicates a question or disbelief, while a flatter tone might suggest more of a surprised exclamation. It's a very common and natural reaction in spoken Japanese.
§ Don't Confuse with 'ええ' (Yes)
This is probably the most common mistake. 'ええっ' (eē) with a small 'っ' and an abrupt stop or rising intonation is an exclamation of surprise. 'ええ' (ee) with a long vowel sound is a polite way to say 'yes'. They sound similar but mean totally different things.
A: 今日、会議は中止になりました。(Kyou, kaigi wa chuushi ni narimashita.)
B: ええっ！本当ですか？(Ee! Hontou desu ka?)
A: はい、本当です。(Hai, hontou desu.)
Translation Hint:
- A:
- The meeting was canceled today.
- B:
- Eh?! Really?
- A:
- Yes, it's true.
§ Using It for Mild Surprise
'ええっ' is for stronger surprise or disbelief, not just a casual 'oh' or 'hmm'. If you're only mildly surprised, other expressions are more appropriate, like 'あら' (ara) or 'へえ' (hē).
- 'あら' is often used by women for mild surprise.
- 'へえ' is used by anyone for mild interest or surprise, like 'oh, really?' or 'interesting.'
A: 今朝、新しいカフェがオープンしたよ。(Kesa, atarashii kafe ga oopun shita yo.)
B: へえ、それはいいですね。(Hē, sore wa ii desu ne.)
Translation Hint:
- A:
- A new cafe opened this morning.
- B:
- Oh, that's nice.
§ Overusing It
Like any strong exclamation, overusing 'ええっ' can make you sound overly dramatic or insincere. Use it when you genuinely feel a jolt of surprise, shock, or strong questioning.
§ Not Matching Your Tone
The spoken delivery of 'ええっ' is crucial. It needs to convey that surprise. A flat 'ええっ' won't sound right and might confuse your listener. Practice the abrupt stop and a slight upward inflection.
A: 彼女、結婚するんだって。(Kanojo, kekkon surun datte.)
B: ええっ！知らなかった。(Ee! Shiranakatta.)
Translation Hint:
- A:
- I heard she's getting married.
- B:
- Eh?! I didn't know that.
In this context, 'ええっ' conveys genuine surprise and perhaps a touch of disbelief at not having known sooner.
How Formal Is It?
"え、と申しますか、それは本当ですか？ (Eh, might I ask, is that true?)"
"えっ、もうこんな時間？ (Eh, is it already this late?)"
"ええっ、マジで？！ (Eh, seriously?! (As in, no way!))"
"えーっ、やだ！ (Eh, no way! (As in, I don't want to!))"
"はぁ？！今なんて言った？ (Huh?! What did you just say?)"
Wusstest du?
This is a phonomime, a word that mimics a sound or feeling.
Beispiele nach Niveau
ええっ、これ全部食べるの？
Eh, are you going to eat all of this?
ええっ、もう帰るの？
Eh, are you leaving already?
ええっ、うそでしょ？
Eh, no way! (You're kidding, right?)
ええっ、そうなの？
Eh, is that so?
ええっ、もう終わり？
Eh, is it already over?
ええっ、電車が止まってるの？
Eh, the train has stopped?
ええっ、忘れてた！
Eh, I forgot!
ええっ、もうこんな時間？
Eh, is it already this late?
ええっ、もうこんな時間！？
Eh?! Is it already this late?
ええっ、本当ですか？信じられない！
Eh?! Is that true? I can't believe it!
ええっ、そんなこと聞いてないよ！
Eh?! I haven't heard anything like that!
ええっ、まさか彼が犯人だったなんて。
Eh?! No way, he was the culprit?
ええっ、これで終わり？もっと続くのかと思った。
Eh?! Is this the end? I thought it would continue.
ええっ、うそでしょ？冗談だよね？
Eh?! No way, seriously? You're joking, right?
ええっ、こんなところに隠してあったなんて！
Eh?! I can't believe it was hidden here!
ええっ、君がそんなことを言うなんて意外だ。
Eh?! It's surprising for you to say something like that.
Tipps
Basic Meaning of Eh?
ええっ (eet) is a Japanese interjection. It's similar to saying 'Eh?' or 'Huh?' in English, but it carries a stronger sense of surprise or questioning.
Expressing Strong Surprise
Use ええっ when something genuinely shocks or amazes you. It’s more intense than a simple え？(e?).
Asking a Question with Surprise
You can use ええっ to ask a question when you are surprised or disbelieving. For example, if someone tells you something unexpected, you might say ええっ？ (eet?) to express your surprise and ask for clarification.
Intonation is Key
The meaning of ええっ can change with your intonation. A rising intonation usually indicates a question or disbelief, while a flatter or falling intonation might convey more of a 'Wow!' type of surprise.
Often Followed by a Question
It's common to hear ええっ followed by a question or an exclamation of what caused the surprise. For example, ええっ、本当ですか？ (Eet, hontou desu ka?) 'Eh? Is that true?'
Context Matters
Like many interjections, the context is crucial for understanding the nuance of ええっ. Pay attention to the situation and the speaker's facial expressions.
Not Always Negative
While it often expresses negative surprise, ええっ can also be used for positive, unexpected news. For example, if you win the lottery, you might exclaim ええっ！
Practice Pronunciation
The double 'e' in ええっ indicates a longer vowel sound. Practice saying it with a drawn-out 'ee' sound to get it right. It's not 'eh', it's more like 'eh-eh'.
Overuse Can Sound Dramatic
Using ええっ too frequently can make you sound overly dramatic or disingenuous. Use it when you genuinely feel strong surprise or disbelief.
Listen for Examples in Media
Pay attention to how native speakers use ええっ in Japanese dramas, anime, and movies. This is a great way to understand its natural usage and appropriate contexts.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Imagine someone saying, 'Eh? Is that E.T. eating eggs?' The 'E.T.' sound reminds you of 'eeh' and the surprise in seeing E.T. eating eggs connects to the meaning.
Visuelle Assoziation
Picture a person with wide eyes and their mouth slightly open, a thought bubble above their head saying 'ええっ?!' as they look at something incredibly unexpected, like a cat driving a car.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to use 「ええっ」 in different real-life scenarios. For example, if a friend tells you something unexpected, respond with 「ええっ、本当に？」 (Eeh, really?). Or if you see something unusual, think to yourself 「ええっ、あれは何？」 (Eeh, what is that?). Focus on varying your intonation to express different levels of surprise.
Wortherkunft
Expressive sound
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Sound of surprise
JapaneseKultureller Kontext
When someone says 'ええっ', it's a clear sign they're taken aback or questioning something unexpected. It's often accompanied by wide eyes or a slight recoil, indicating genuine surprise or disbelief, rather than just mild interest.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenBoth 「ええっ」 and 「えっ」 are exclamations of surprise. The key difference is the length of the vowel sound. 「ええっ」 has a longer vowel sound, which generally indicates a
Generally, 「ええっ」 is considered
While 「ええっ」 primarily conveys surprise, it can also express a sense of
The pronunciation of 「ええっ」 is fairly straightforward. It's like the English 'eh' sound, but extended. The small 「っ」 at the end indicates a
You'd often hear 「ええっ」 when someone receives unexpected news, sees something surprising, or is asked a question they didn't anticipate. For instance, if someone tells you they're moving to another country suddenly, you might respond with 「ええっ！」
Yes, other words can express surprise, though with different nuances.
Yes, you absolutely can! When said with a
Both men and women use 「ええっ」. It's not particularly gender-specific, although some other expressions of surprise might have a slight gender leaning. 「ええっ」 is pretty
Yes, the length of the 'e' sound is crucial. The double 'e' in 「ええっ」 emphasizes a
A good English equivalent for 「ええっ」 would be
Teste dich selbst 78 Fragen
___、これ、いくらですか。(Eh? How much is this?)
ええっ (eeh?) is used to express surprise or question something, fitting the context of asking about a price.
田中さん、来ません？ ___、来ません。(Tanaka-san is not coming? Eh? Not coming?)
ええっ (eeh?) is used here to show surprise or ask for clarification when someone says Tanaka-san is not coming.
これはペンです。 ___、ペン？(This is a pen. Eh? A pen?)
ええっ (eeh?) indicates a questioning or surprised reaction to the statement 'This is a pen.'
テストが明日あります。 ___、明日？(There's a test tomorrow. Eh? Tomorrow?)
ええっ (eeh?) expresses surprise or disbelief upon hearing that the test is tomorrow.
この本、とても高いです。 ___、本当に？(This book is very expensive. Eh? Really?)
ええっ (eeh?) is used to convey surprise or to question the high price of the book.
彼は学生ではありません。 ___、学生じゃない？(He is not a student. Eh? Not a student?)
ええっ (eeh?) shows surprise or a request for confirmation that he is not a student.
Someone says 'Eh, really?' in surprise.
Someone expresses surprise that something is already over.
Someone is surprised that someone isn't coming.
Read this aloud:
ええっ、うそ！
Focus: The double 'e' sound, like a drawn-out 'eh'.
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
ええっ、まだ？
Focus: The rising intonation at the end to indicate a question.
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
ええっ、知らない！
Focus: Emphasize the 'e' sound and 'nai' at the end.
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Someone just heard surprising news and is reacting.
A person is surprised that someone is leaving already.
Someone is asking if something unexpected is possible.
Read this aloud:
ええっ、うそでしょ！
Focus: ええっ (eeh)
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
ええっ、まさか。
Focus: ええっ (eeh), まさか (masaka)
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
ええっ、どうしたの？
Focus: ええっ (eeh), どうしたの (dō shita no)
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Imagine you just found out your friend won the lottery. How would you express your surprise using 「ええっ」? Write a short sentence or two.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
ええっ、宝くじが当たったの？すごいね！ (Eh? You won the lottery? That's amazing!)
You heard a surprising piece of gossip. Write a short sentence using 「ええっ」 to show your disbelief.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
ええっ、彼が結婚したって？まさか！ (Eh? He got married? No way!)
Someone tells you something unexpected about your schedule. Use 「ええっ」 to show you're questioning it.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
ええっ、明日の会議がキャンセル？聞いてないよ。 (Eh? Tomorrow's meeting is cancelled? I hadn't heard.)
What emotion is B expressing with 「ええっ」?
Read this passage:
A: ねぇ、このケーキ、全部食べたの？ B: ええっ、そんなことないよ！ (A: Hey, did you eat all of this cake? B: Eh? No way!)
What emotion is B expressing with 「ええっ」?
In this context, 'ええっ' is used to show strong surprise and to deny the accusation, implying 'I can't believe you'd think that!'
In this context, 'ええっ' is used to show strong surprise and to deny the accusation, implying 'I can't believe you'd think that!'
How does the speaker feel after hearing the news?
Read this passage:
友達: 明日のテスト、実は来週になったよ。 あなた: ええっ、本当？良かった！ (Friend: Actually, tomorrow's test got moved to next week. You: Eh? Really? That's good!)
How does the speaker feel after hearing the news?
The speaker uses 'ええっ' to express surprise, followed by '良かった' (That's good!), indicating relief that the test is postponed.
The speaker uses 'ええっ' to express surprise, followed by '良かった' (That's good!), indicating relief that the test is postponed.
What is the student's reaction to the teacher's question?
Read this passage:
先生: この問題、誰も解けなかったのかい？ 生徒: ええっ、難しすぎます！ (Teacher: No one could solve this problem? Student: Eh? It's too difficult!)
What is the student's reaction to the teacher's question?
The student uses 'ええっ' to express surprise that the teacher thinks they should have solved it, and then complains about the difficulty.
The student uses 'ええっ' to express surprise that the teacher thinks they should have solved it, and then complains about the difficulty.
This sentence expresses strong surprise at someone eating an entire cake by themselves. 'ええっ' comes at the beginning to show that surprise.
This sentence conveys surprise upon realizing the test was today, not tomorrow. 'ええっ' sets the tone of sudden realization and surprise.
Here, 'ええっ' shows strong disbelief or shock at the news of someone getting married. It starts the expression of surprise.
Choose the best response to someone telling you they won the lottery.
「ええっ」 is used to express surprise. Winning the lottery is a surprising event.
Which situation would most likely elicit an "ええっ"?
Discovering someone's unexpected skill, like speaking five languages, would cause a strong surprise, fitting for 「ええっ」.
A friend tells you, 「明日、引っ越しするんだ。」 (I'm moving tomorrow.) What's an appropriate reaction using 「ええっ」?
An unexpected announcement like moving tomorrow would prompt a surprised question, and 「本当に？」 (Really?) expresses that.
「ええっ」 can be used when you are mildly interested in something.
「ええっ」 expresses a stronger degree of surprise or question, not mild interest.
If someone tells you a surprising piece of news, responding with 「ええっ」 is a natural way to show your reaction.
「ええっ」 is commonly used to show strong surprise or a questioning reaction to unexpected news.
「ええっ」 is equivalent to saying "Yes" politely.
「ええっ」 is an exclamation of surprise or question, not a polite 'yes'. The polite 'yes' would typically be 「はい」 or 「ええ」.
This sentence expresses strong surprise at hearing something unexpected.
This is used to express surprise or a question when something finishes sooner than expected.
This expresses a questioning surprise, wondering if something is genuine.
___！まさか彼がそんなことをするなんて。
「ええっ」は強い驚きを表す感嘆詞です。ここでは、彼がそんなことをしたという予期せぬ事態に対する驚きを表現しています。
A: 明日の会議は中止になったよ。 B: ___！？本当ですか？
相手の予期せぬ情報に対する強い驚きと確認のニュアンスで「ええっ」が使われます。
彼女は私の秘密を知っていると打ち明けた。私は思わず「___」と声に出してしまった。
自分の秘密が知られているという衝撃的な事実に対して、強い驚きを表現するために「ええっ」を使います。
A: 宝くじに当たったんだ！ B: ___！すごいじゃない！
宝くじに当たったという良い意味での強い驚きを表す際に「ええっ」が適切です。
彼が突然会社を辞めたと聞いて、私は___と耳を疑った。
突然の退職という驚きのニュースに対して、耳を疑うほどの強い驚きを表現するのに「ええっ」を使います。
A: これ、私が作った料理だよ。 B: ___！？お店の味みたい！
手作りとは思えないほど美味しい料理に対して、良い意味での驚きを「ええっ」で表現します。
状況：友達が宝くじに当たったと聞いて、あなたはどう反応しますか？
「ええっ」は驚きを表す感嘆詞なので、宝くじに当たったという驚くべきニュースに対して使うのが適切です。
状況：同僚が会社の機密情報を漏洩したと知って、あなたはどんな気持ちになりますか？
「ええっ」は強い驚きや不信を表すため、会社の機密情報漏洩のような重大な事態に対して使われます。 「まさか」や「信じられない」がその感情をさらに強調します。
状況：突然、上司から「君が新しいプロジェクトのリーダーだ」と言われました。どのような返事をしますか？
「ええっ」は、予期せぬ知らせに対する驚きや戸惑いを表します。突然の昇進は驚きを伴うため、この表現が適切です。
「ええっ」は、相手に質問をするときに使われることがある。
「ええっ」は、驚きだけでなく、確認のための質問のニュアンスで使われることもあります。例えば「ええっ、本当ですか？」のように使います。
「ええっ」は、常にポジティブな驚きを表す。
「ええっ」は、良いニュースに対する驚きだけでなく、悪いニュースや予期せぬ出来事に対する驚きや戸惑いを表すこともあります。
「ええっ」は、「はい」と同じように返事として使える。
「ええっ」は驚きや疑問を表す感嘆詞であり、「はい」のように肯定的な返事として使うことはできません。
Someone just shared unbelievable news. How would you react?
You glance at the clock and realize how late it is. What's your immediate reaction?
You hear about an unexpected and surprising event. How would you express your shock?
Read this aloud:
ええっ、合格したんですか？信じられない！
Focus: The rising intonation on 'ええっ' to convey disbelief.
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
ええっ、この値段は高すぎませんか？
Focus: Emphasize the 'ええっ' to show your astonishment at the price.
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
ええっ、雨が降ってきた？傘、持ってないのに。
Focus: The slight pause after 'ええっ' and the questioning tone that follows.
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Imagine you received an unexpected promotion at work. Write a short journal entry (3-4 sentences) expressing your surprise and how you feel about it, making sure to use 'ええっ'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
ええっ、まさか私が昇進するなんて！本当に驚いています。でも、このチャンスをいただけて、とても嬉しいです。これからもっと頑張ります。
You just found out that your friend is moving to a different country next month. Write a text message (2-3 sentences) to them, expressing your surprise and asking for more details, using 'ええっ'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
ええっ、来月引っ越すって本当？全然知らなかったよ！詳しく教えてくれる？
You are at a restaurant and the waiter tells you that your favorite dish is no longer on the menu. Write a short dialogue (2-3 lines) reacting to this news with 'ええっ'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
客：「おすすめは何ですか？」店員：「申し訳ございませんが、一番人気のパスタはメニューから外れました。」客：「ええっ、そうなんですか？！残念です。」
田中さんが「ええっ」と言ったのは、なぜですか？
Read this passage:
ある日、田中さんは会社の同僚から「部長が結婚するらしいよ」と聞かされた。田中さんは目を丸くして、「ええっ、本当ですか？知らなかったです！」と驚いた。
田中さんが「ええっ」と言ったのは、なぜですか？
田中さんは同僚から初めて部長の結婚の話を聞き、「知らなかったです！」と明確に述べているため、驚きの理由は結婚の事実を知らなかったことだとわかります。
田中さんは同僚から初めて部長の結婚の話を聞き、「知らなかったです！」と明確に述べているため、驚きの理由は結婚の事実を知らなかったことだとわかります。
佐藤さんが「ええっ」と言ったときの気持ちに最も近いものはどれですか？
Read this passage:
佐藤さんは、新しいプロジェクトのリーダーに選ばれたことを知らされた。彼は一瞬、言葉を失った。「ええっ、私がリーダーですか？まさか、信じられません。」と、嬉しいような、戸惑うような複雑な表情を浮かべた。
佐藤さんが「ええっ」と言ったときの気持ちに最も近いものはどれですか？
佐藤さんは「言葉を失った」「まさか、信じられません」と述べており、さらに「嬉しいような、戸惑うような複雑な表情」とあるため、驚きと戸惑いの感情が最も適切です。
佐藤さんは「言葉を失った」「まさか、信じられません」と述べており、さらに「嬉しいような、戸惑うような複雑な表情」とあるため、驚きと戸惑いの感情が最も適切です。
この状況で「ええっ」が使われたのは、どのような意図がありますか？
Read this passage:
友人が「宝くじが当たったんだ！」と興奮気味に話してきた。私は聞き間違いかと思い、「ええっ？もう一度言ってくれない？」と聞き返した。
この状況で「ええっ」が使われたのは、どのような意図がありますか？
「聞き間違いかと思い」とあり、「もう一度言ってくれない？」と続けていることから、友人の発言が信じがたく、確認したいという意図で「ええっ」が使われたと理解できます。
「聞き間違いかと思い」とあり、「もう一度言ってくれない？」と続けていることから、友人の発言が信じがたく、確認したいという意図で「ええっ」が使われたと理解できます。
パーティーで旧友に偶然会って、思わず「___！」と声を上げた。
「ええっ」は、予期せぬ出来事に対する強い驚きや意外感を表現する際に使われます。旧友に偶然会うという状況に合致します。
「彼が結婚したって？___、全く知らなかったよ！」
結婚の報せに対する強い驚きと、全く知らなかったという意外感を表現するのに「ええっ」が適切です。
「このプロジェクト、納期が明日だそうですよ。」「___！？聞いてないよ！」
予期せぬ納期が明日だと聞いて、強い驚きと同時に情報が伝わっていなかったことへの不満を表す際に「ええっ」が使われます。
突然の提案に彼女は「___」と目を丸くした。
突然の提案に対する強い驚きや戸惑いを表現する状況で「ええっ」が適切です。目を丸くするという描写も感情の強さを示しています。
「君がこんな時間にここにいるなんて。___、どうしたの？」
予期せぬ場所で人に会った際の強い驚きと、その状況に対する疑問を投げかける表現として「ええっ」が適しています。
「このケーキ、全部食べたの？___、信じられない！」
大きな驚きや信じられないという感情を表現する際に「ええっ」が使われます。ケーキを全部食べたという状況に合致します。
This sentence expresses strong surprise and asks for confirmation about a surprising story.
This sentence expresses surprise upon hearing that someone got married, indicating previous lack of knowledge.
This sentence conveys disbelief and questioning about someone breaking something.
/ 78 correct
Perfect score!
Basic Meaning of Eh?
ええっ (eet) is a Japanese interjection. It's similar to saying 'Eh?' or 'Huh?' in English, but it carries a stronger sense of surprise or questioning.
Expressing Strong Surprise
Use ええっ when something genuinely shocks or amazes you. It’s more intense than a simple え？(e?).
Asking a Question with Surprise
You can use ええっ to ask a question when you are surprised or disbelieving. For example, if someone tells you something unexpected, you might say ええっ？ (eet?) to express your surprise and ask for clarification.
Intonation is Key
The meaning of ええっ can change with your intonation. A rising intonation usually indicates a question or disbelief, while a flatter or falling intonation might convey more of a 'Wow!' type of surprise.
Verwandte Inhalte
Mehr home Wörter
上に
B1Above; on top of.
不在
B1Absent; not present. Not in a particular place.
手頃な
B1Affordable, reasonable (price).
お先に
B1Excuse me for going first; said when leaving before others.
仲介
B1Mediation, agency (e.g., real estate).
あっ
B1Ah!; an exclamation of sudden realization or surprise.
エアコン
A2air conditioner
冷暖房
B1Air conditioning and heating system.
風通しの良い
B1Well-ventilated; airy.
～可
A2Suffix meaning "permitted" or "allowed".
