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So please take your time to read through it.
By reading this article,
- You will be able to accurately understand how to use “Yes” and “No” in English and use them correctly in real conversations, thereby improving your English communication skills.
- By being aware of the differences with Japanese and practicing repeatedly, you will train your English brain and be able to converse more smoothly.
It is full of information that you cannot find anywhere else, such as the above.
Please take your time to read through it.
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Introduction
When learning English, are we non-native speakers really able to use Yes and No?
I think those who do are probably in the minority.
I remember being taught in junior high school that negative questions such as “Don’t you…?” and “Isn’t he…, is he?” should be translated as “Yes is no, No is yes.”
I memorized this explanation without any doubt, just like translating classical Chinese from back to front with “return marks.”
However, in reality, “Yes, No” in English and “Yes, No” in Japanese are fundamentally different.
The Japanese “Yes, No” express agreement or disagreement with the other person.
In other words, the Japanese way of thinking is as follows:
“Yes”: You’re right. (Expresses agreement with the other person)
“No”: It’s not what you say. (Expressing disagreement with the other person)
In contrast, the English way of thinking is:
“Yes”: affirmative (A sign to yourself that “I will do it,” “It’s like this,” “That’s right”)
“No”: negative (A sign to yourself that “I won’t do it,” “It’s not like this,” “It’s not like that”)
Excerpt from the junior high school textbook [NEW HORIZON English Course 2]
Source:
Unit 4 (Homestay in the United States)【Homestay Advice】
During your homestay, you are a member of the family.
You are not a guest.
You have to follow the house rules.
If you have any question, ask your host family.
It is important to communicate with them.
You have to speak English, but you do not have to speak perfect English.
Don’t be shy, and enjoy your stay. [P59] [61 words]
【 What are the Wilson family’s house rules? 】
Kaito： Are there any house rules?
Mrs. Wilson： Yes. You must come home by six.
Kaito： Six o’clock? Isn’t that a little early?
Mrs. Wilson： Well, we have dinner at six.
Kaito： I see.
Mrs. Wilson： And if you have a special plan later in the evening, you must not go out alone.
Kaito： Oh,……. Isn’t it safe in the evening?
Mrs. Wilson： No, not for young boys and girls. I’ll take you there and pick you up.
Kaito： OK. I understand. [P60] [69 words]
*The above English text is taken from pages 59-60 of NEW HORIZON English Course 2, published by Tokyo Shoseki Co., Ltd.
ISBN978-4-487-12392-6 C4382 \00000E.
How should I translate the bolded English text?
Practice “Yes” and “No”!
Let’s practice “Yes” and “No” again here.
Please answer the following questions clearly with “Yes” or “No” in English.
First, look at the following sentences.
[Practice-01]
Do many people read books?
Answer： No, they don’t.
I don’t think so. They do, right?
Answer： No, they don’t.
Do they really read books?
Answer： No, they don’t.
[Practice-02]
Brazil isn’t a South American country, is it?
Answer： Yes, it is.
Really? It isn’t right?
Answer： Yes, it is.
So, it is a South American country?
Answer： Yes, it is.
[Practice-03]
You don’t have a smartphone, do you?
Answer： No, I don’t.
You really don’t?
Answer： No, I don’t.
So, you don’t have a smartphone?
Answer： No, I don’t. I told you I don’t.
[Practice-04]
Are you reading a book now?
Answer： Yes, I am.
Are you sure? You aren’t really reading a book, are you?
Answer： Yes, I am.
So, you are reading a book?
Answer： Yes, I am. I am reading a book.
[Practice-05]
Did Santa Claus visit you last night?
Answer： No, he didn’t.
He didn’t visit you last night?
Answer： No, he didn’t.
He really didn’t visit you last night?
Answer： No, he didn’t. He doesn’t even know me.
[Practice-06]
You don’t know Fuji Mountain, do you?
Answer： Yes, I do.
Do you know Fuji Mountain?
Answer： Yes, I do.
Be honest. You don’t know Fuji Mountain, right?
Answer： Yes, I do. I know Fuji Mountain.
[Practice-07]
Aliens live on the moon, right?
Answer： No, they don’t.
They don’t?
Answer： No, they don’t.
But I can see them on the surface of the moon with telescopes. They really don’t?
Answer： No, they don’t. Aliens can’t live on the moon.
[Practice-08]
Do you like horror movies?
Answer： No, I don’t.
You don’t like horror movies?
Answer： No, I don’t.
It’s good. You really don’t like horror movies?
Answer： No, I don’t.
[Practice-09]
Can a doll open its mouth?
Answer： No, it can’t.
It can’t open its mouth?
Answer： No, it can’t.
Really? It can’t?
Answer： No, it can’t. It can’t open its mouth.
[Practice-10]
You are Brad Pitt, aren’t you?
Answer： No, I’m not.
You are not?
Answer： No, I’m not.
I don’t think so. You are Brad Pitt, right?
Answer： No, I’m not. I’m not Brad Pitt.
So you really are not Brad Pitt?
Answer： No, I’m not.
[Practice-11]
You don’t study Japanese, do you?
Answer： Yes, I do.
You study Japanese?
Answer： Yes, I do.
Be honest with me. You don’t study Japanese, right?
Answer： Yes, I do. I really do study Japanese.
[Example-12]
Are you an artist?
Answer： Yes, I am.
You are not an artist, are you?
Answer： Yes, I am. I am an artist.
I don’t think so. You aren’t an artist, right?
Answer： Yes, I am.
Let’s practice [Yes, No] again!
Next time, I will ask the question again. Please answer clearly with “Yes,….” or “No, ……”.
[Practice-01]
Do many people read books?
You： No, …….
I don’t think so. They do, right?
You： No, …….
Do they really read books?
You： No, …….
[Practice-02]
Brazil isn’t a South American country, is it?
You： Yes, …….
Really? It isn’t right?
You： Yes, …….
So, it is a South American country?
You： Yes, …….
[Practice-03]
You don’t have a smartphone, do you?
You： No, …….
You really don’t?
You： No, …….
So, you don’t have a smartphone?
You： No, …….
[Practice-04]
Are you reading a book now?
You： Yes, …….
Are you sure? You aren’t really reading a book, are you?
You： Yes, …….
So, you are reading a book?
You： Yes, …….
[Practice-05]
Did Santa Claus visit you last night?
You： No, …….
He didn’t visit you last night?
You： No, …….
He really didn’t visit you last night?
You： No, …….
[Practice-06]
You don’t know Fuji Mountain, do you?
You： Yes, …….
Do you know Fuji Mountain?
You： Yes, …….
Be honest. You don’t know Fuji Mountain, right?
You： Yes, …….
[Practice-07]
Aliens live on the moon, right?
You： No, …….
They don’t?
You： No, …….
But I can see them on the surface of the moon with telescopes. They really don’t?
You： No, …….
[Practice-08]
Do you like horror movies?
You： No, …….
You don’t like horror movies?
You： No, …….
It’s good. You really don’t like horror movies?
You： No, …….
[Practice-09]
Can a doll open its mouth?
You： No, …….
It can’t open its mouth?
You： No, …….
Really? It can’t?
You： No, …….
[Practice-10]
You are Brad Pitt, aren’t you?
You： No, …….
You are not?
You： No, …….
I don’t think so. You are Brad Pitt, right?
You： No, …….
So you really are not Brad Pitt?
You： No, …….
[Practice-11]
You don’t study Japanese, do you?
You： Yes, …….
You study Japanese?
You： Yes, …….
Be honest with me. You don’t study Japanese, right?
You： Yes, …….
[Example-12]
Are you an artist?
You： Yes, …….
You are not an artist, are you?
You： Yes, ……. I am an artist.
I don’t think so. You aren’t an artist, right?
You： Yes, …….
Summary
Understanding how to use “Yes” and “No” correctly in English is a very important point in learning English.
In particular, it is necessary to be aware of the difference between “Yes” and “No” in Japanese.
We have summarized the difference and the key points for using them correctly.
Differences Between Japanese and English
Japanese way of thinking.
- “Yes”: Agree with what the other person said (in response to a question, “You’re right.”)
- “No”: Disagree with what the other person said (in response to a question, “That’s not what you said.”)
English way of thinking.
- Yes: Affirmative (for yourself, “That’s right,” “I will do that”)
- No: Negative (for yourself, “That’s not right,” “I won’t do that”)
Understanding through actual examples
The use of “Yes” and “No” in English is different from Japanese, so it is effective to practice through concrete examples like the one in this text.
Question: Do many people read books?
Answer: No, they don’t.
Question: Brazil isn’t a South American country, is it?
Answer: Yes, it is.
Question: You don’t have a smartphone, do you?
Answer: No, I don’t.
The Importance of Conversation Practice
By practicing repeatedly, you will be able to use “Yes” and “No” naturally.
Practice using specific conversation examples so that you can respond with confidence.
Question: Are you reading a book now?
Answer: Yes, I am.
Question: Did Santa Claus visit you last night?
Answer: No, he didn’t.
In this way, accurately understanding how to use “Yes” and “No” in English and using them correctly in actual conversations will lead to improved English communication skills.
By being aware of the differences from Japanese thinking and practicing repeatedly, you can train your English brain and become able to converse more smoothly.
