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How to Say ‘No, no, I meant you look kind.’ in Japanese

いやいや、優しそうって意味です。

iya iya yasashi sou tte imi desu

[ee-YAH ee-YAH yah-SAH-shee soh tte ee-mee dess]

💬 Usage Tip: 〜って意味です means "I mean…" and is a handy way to clarify what you just said. Example: 褒めてるって意味です "I mean it as a compliment".

Phrase Breakdown

いやいや、

iya iya

no, no,

This is a soft, friendly way to deny something or correct a misunderstanding. Say it quickly and lightly.

Example

いやいや、大丈夫です。

No, no, it's fine.

Words in this phrase

いや

iya

[ee-YAH]

no

Casual 'no', often doubled to deny strongly.

Example

いや、違います。

No, that's wrong.

いや

iya

[ee-YAH]

no (repeated)

Repetition adds a friendly 'no, no' feel.

Example

いやいや、大丈夫です。

No, no, it's fine.

優しそうって

yasashi sou tte

(that you) look kind

優しそう means 'looks kind' (優しい + そう). って quotes it.

Example

優しそうって言われます。

People say I look kind.

Words in this phrase

優し

yasashi

[yah-SAH-shee]

kind; gentle

Stem of 優しい, used before そう.

Example

優しそうな人ですね。

He looks like a kind person.

そう

sou

[soh]

seems; looks like

Attached to a word stem to express appearance or impression.

Example

とても優しそうですね。

You seem very kind.

って

tte

[tte]

quoting particle

Indicates reported or indirect speech.

Example

彼が嫌だって

He said he hates it.

意味です。

imi desu

is what I mean

〜って意味です means 'I mean ~'. Pronounce it i-mi-de-s, with the final u almost silent.

Example

そういう意味です。

That's what I mean.

Words in this phrase

意味

imi

[ee-mee]

meaning

The noun for meaning or sense. Useful when asking about words and signs.

Example

これはどういう意味ですか、日本語の意味が知りたいです。

What does this mean? I want to know the Japanese meaning.

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite copula

A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

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