A1 Expression Formel 1 min de lecture

いいえ、結構です

iie, kekkou desu

No, thank you

Entraîne-toi

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A polite way to decline an offer or service in Japanese without causing offense.

  • Means: A firm but polite 'No, thank you' used in professional or formal settings.
  • Used in: Declining a second helping of food, refusing a bag at a store, or rejecting an offer.
  • Don't confuse: It can sometimes sound too cold or final depending on your tone of voice.
Polite bow + 'No, thank you' = Respectful boundary

Explication à ton niveau :

This is a polite way to say 'no' in Japanese. Use it when someone offers you something you do not want.
This phrase is used to decline offers politely. It literally means 'it is sufficient'. It is very common in shops and restaurants when you want to refuse a service.
A standard polite expression for declining offers. It is useful for maintaining social harmony. While 'iie' is a direct 'no', 'kekkou desu' softens the refusal by implying satisfaction with the current situation.
This expression functions as a social buffer. By utilizing the adjective 'kekkou', which denotes sufficiency, the speaker avoids the bluntness of a direct negative. It is essential for navigating formal Japanese social hierarchies.
An essential tool in Japanese pragmatics, this phrase exemplifies the culture of indirect refusal. It functions as a face-saving device, allowing the speaker to maintain professional decorum while establishing boundaries. Its usage is highly context-dependent, requiring careful intonation to avoid sounding dismissive.
This phrase encapsulates the Japanese linguistic preference for 'enryo' (restraint). By framing a refusal as an affirmation of sufficiency, the speaker adheres to the principles of 'honne' and 'tatemae'. It is a sophisticated example of how lexical choice mitigates the potential for social friction in high-context communication.

Signification

Politically declining an offer.

🌍

Contexte culturel

Refusing an offer is an art. Using 'Kekkou desu' shows you respect the other person's offer while maintaining your own needs. In business, 'Kekkou desu' is a professional way to say 'no' without burning bridges.

💡

Tone matters

Smile when you say it. It prevents the phrase from sounding like you are angry.

💡

Tone matters

Smile when you say it. It prevents the phrase from sounding like you are angry.

Teste-toi

Which is the most polite way to decline a bag at a store?

Clerk: 袋は必要ですか？

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : いいえ、結構です。

This is the standard polite response.

🎉 Score : /1

Aides visuelles

Banque d exercices

2 exercices
Choisis la bonne réponse Fill Blank

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Which is the most polite way to decline a bag at a store? Choose A1

Clerk: 袋は必要ですか？

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : いいえ、結構です。

This is the standard polite response.

🎉 Score : /2

Questions fréquentes

1 questions

Yes, it is perfect for the office.

Expressions liées

🔗

大丈夫です

similar

I'm fine / No thanks

🔗

お気遣いなく

builds on

Please don't worry about it

🔄

遠慮します

synonym

I will refrain

Où l'utiliser

🏪

Convenience Store

Clerk: 袋はご利用ですか？

You: いいえ、結構です。

neutral
💼

Office Offer

Colleague: 手伝いましょうか？

You: お気遣いなく、結構です。

formal

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'Kekkou' as 'Cake-oh!'. If you've already had enough cake, you say 'Cake-oh, no thanks!'

Association visuelle

Imagine a waiter offering a giant cake. You gently push your hand forward and smile, saying 'Kekkou desu'.

Story

You are at a fancy party. A waiter approaches with champagne. You don't want any. You smile, bow slightly, and say 'いいえ、結構です'. The waiter nods and moves on. You feel proud of your polite boundary.

In Other Languages

Similar to 'No, thank you' in English or 'Non, merci' in French. It is a universal polite refusal.

Word Web

いいえ結構大丈夫丁寧断るマナー

Défi

Next time you buy something, practice saying '袋は結構です' (I don't need a bag).

Review in 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, and 1 month.

Prononciation

Stress Flat pitch accent.

The 'kk' is a small tsu (っ), creating a short pause.

Spectre de formalité

Formel
いいえ、結構です。

いいえ、結構です。 (Refusing an item)

Neutre
大丈夫です。

大丈夫です。 (Refusing an item)

Informel
いらない。

いらない。 (Refusing an item)

Argot
パス！

パス！ (Refusing an item)

Derived from the kanji {結} (tie/structure) and {構} (build/structure). It originally meant 'well-built' or 'splendid'.

Edo Period:
Modern:

Le savais-tu ?

The word 'Kekkou' is also used to mean 'quite' or 'very' (e.g., kekkou oishii - quite delicious).

Notes culturelles

Refusing an offer is an art. Using 'Kekkou desu' shows you respect the other person's offer while maintaining your own needs.

“お茶のおかわりはいかがですか？ いいえ、結構です。”

In business, 'Kekkou desu' is a professional way to say 'no' without burning bridges.

“その条件では結構です。”

Amorces de conversation

“

How do you politely decline a drink at a party?

Erreurs courantes

✗

いいえ、結構！

✓

いいえ、結構です。

wrong register
Dropping the 'desu' makes it sound like a command or very blunt. Always keep the polite ending.

L1 Interference

0

In Other Languages

Spanish Very Similar

No, gracias.

Spanish is more direct; Japanese requires the 'sufficient' framing.

French Very Similar

Non, merci.

French is less concerned with the 'sufficiency' aspect.

German Very Similar

Nein, danke.

German is much more direct than the Japanese indirect approach.

Japanese Very Similar

大丈夫です。

Kekkou is more formal/final; Daijoubu is more flexible.

Arabic moderate

لا، شكراً (La, shukran).

Arabic social norms often require a more elaborate refusal process.

Spotted in the Real World

🎬

(1953)

“いいえ、結構です。”

Declining an offer of food.

Facile à confondre

いいえ、結構です vs いいえ

Learners think 'iie' is the standard 'no'.

Use 'iie' for questions, but 'kekkou desu' for offers.

Questions fréquentes (1)

Yes, it is perfect for the office.

usage contexts

Learning Path

Prerequisites

C'tait utile ?

Commentaires (0)

Connectez-vous pour Commenter
Pas encore de commentaires. Soyez le premier à partager vos idées !