Japanese Filler Words and How to Use Them

Nobody likes dead air, and I’m not just talking about silence here. 

Silence is usually peaceful, like sitting quietly under a tree and enjoying the breeze. Dead air, on the other hand, is that dreadful awkwardness you get in between milliseconds of conversational downtime – it’s what most of us fill with an Um… or a Hmm… in English, but what about in Japanese?

The people of Japan have their own array of filler words. After all, they are masters of non-verbal communication and social cues, and they know how to read between the lines. 

Just read my post on Honne and Tatemae, where I discussed the culture of favoring societal harmony. You’ll see just how socially aware Japanese people typically need to be.

Naturally, filler words have great importance in Japan. To either emphasize something or soften the meaning, you’ll often hear Japanese people use filler words in daily conversations. These are essential to feeling like a true native, not just in Japanese but in any language.

So, let’s check out some of the top Japanese fillers and explain their social context.

Japanese Language Fillers: What Are Filler Words?

Before we get to the examples of Japanese filler words, know that overusing them can hurt your image in certain social situations.

Like… Um… Oh well, You know… So…

You get it.

So, instead of using them to chain unfinished thoughts together or to buy time when thinking mid-sentence, filler words should be mostly used to add context or meaning to what’s being said.

Common use cases of filler words are:

• Softening the tone of a phrase

• Putting extra emphasis on a thought

• Conveying a certain emotion

• Add politeness to an otherwise direct sentence

When speaking, it’s natural to use filler words to let the other person know that you’re not finished talking or to buy a moment to think something through. 

However, if you don’t want to be perceived as less well-spoken or less confident, you should generally avoid using filler words too often or too much. In English, for example, when someone frequently says: “like, umm, you know, like…” it can be distracting and give a poor impression. You don’t want that.

With this in mind, let’s also mention a few words on the formality/informality of filler words.

Filler Words in Polite/Informal Forms

As you may know from my other Japanese-focused posts, like how to say sorry in Japanese and thank you in Japanese, expressions often change depending on who you’re speaking to, or rather, their status. 

Naturally, some filler words are reserved for more formal settings, while others are more commonly used in informal ones. For instance, some of the informal ones like てかさー (teka sā) or てゆーか (te yū ka) are more appropriate among the youth but may sound off if you’re speaking to your boss.

On the other hand, other fillers like その (sono), あの (ano), or even そうですか (sō desu ka) go well both in formal and informal settings, so take a look at each one below in more detail. 

Let’s dive in.

あの (Ano): Um… in Japanese

This word literally means “That” but it’s used more like “Um…” when you want to get someone to pay attention to you, and can be used in both formal and informal settings. 

Here’s what I mean: Say, you talk to a colleague at work about a certain problem you have. You may say something like this: あの、ちょっといいですか、あの、言いたいことがあります。(Ano, chotto ii desu ka, ano, iitai koto ga arimasu.)

It translates to this in English: “Umm, may I have a minute, uh, I have something to say.”

So, あの (Ano) is pretty straightforward and versatile, and that’s why it’s a great tool to keep in your arsenal as a Japanese learner.

えっと (etto) / ええと (eeto) / え (ē): Err, Uh

You know how when you’re speaking in English you sometimes throw a couple of “Err…” here and there? It just sounds natural to take minor breaks in between your delivery, especially when speaking casually.

For instance, you may say ええと、何を言おうとしていたんだっけ・・(Eeto, nani o iō to shite ita n dakke…) after being momentarily distracted away from a long thought, which means something along the lines of “So, uh, what I was going to say is…”

The example above goes in both formal and informal settings. In fact, both ええと (eeto) and えー (ē) are suitable for formal as well as casual speech. え can also be used at the beginning of the sentence to serve as an interjection in casual conversations, like え、なに？ (Ee, nani?) which means, “Wait, what?.”

Just like you can use multiple filler sounds/words together in English, you can technically use ええと (eeto) and えー (ē) as many times as needed until you finish your sentence or thought. It might just be difficult for the listener to understand what you’re saying if you overuse it. And while it may sound similar, えっと (etto) is generally more informal, so it works best when used among friends, peers, or when you’re speaking to yourself.

それで (Sore de…): So, Well…

This is another very common filler word you’ve definitely heard before: それで  — “sore de” basically means “So”, and is used exactly like you would in English. 

Its simplicity makes it one of the safest filler words you can start using as a Japanese learner right away to sound more natural or add flow to your speech.

Alternatively, you may also hear あれ (are), which literally means “This” and is usually used to basically point to something that’s either close to or related to the speaker.

When used as filler words, however, these mean “huh?” and convey surprise, unlike Sore de.

Lastly, while それで  — (Sore de…) can be more fitting for formal settings, you can get away with で (-de) if you’re among friends or peers as well.

なんか (Nanka): Hesitation Words in Japanese

なんか  — “nanka” is another very common filler word, and it specifically conveys hesitation or unsureness when used mid-sentence or mid-thought. If you ever find yourself looking for the right word to say, this is the perfect filler word to pepper in between “dead air” moments.

When said at the beginning of a sentence, outside of a conversation, Nanka can also convey a surprised feeling in the wake of something that was just discovered. Sort of like, “Oh!” or “Hey, check this!”.

Originally, Nanka comes from the word 何か (nanika), which means something. However, the word is shortened in daily speech to Nanka, and is similar to the English filler word “Like.”

Some people may also use it as “You know” when looking for the words to say or when they’re confused or speechless, so understanding Nanka is all about reading the context. 

When it’s used as “Like”, it looks like this: なんか、私にとってはどっちでもいいって感じ。

(Nanka, watashi ni totte wa dotchi demo ii tte kanji.). Essentially, this means “Like, I don’t care” or “Like, whatever”. 

On the other hand, when you’re surprised by something, like when it snows, you can say: なんか、今日は雪が降りそうだ which means, “Oh hey, it seems like it’s going to snow today.”

はい (Hai)

Not to be confused with はあ (haa), which expresses surprise or an exclamation, Hai simply means yes. It’s a sound or filler word that’s used to confirm information quickly. However, if it’s coming from the listener, it can also be interpreted as a “Yes, go on.” 

In this context, Hai is a great tool for an active listener. Similar to えー (ē), it can be used like you’d use “Uh huh” in English.

Speaking of active listening, while the similar-sounding はあ (haa) is usually used to voice one’s surprise or shock, you can also use “hai” as a “Yes” or “Indeed” in a confirming manner, at the beginning of a sentence, or as a response by itself.

In this context, saying はあ (haa) with a deep exhale can also convey that something bad has transpired, so it can also be used in a “pitiful” way.

まぁ (Maa)

Just like you can say “well” in English before a sentence or a thought, you can also use まぁ (Maa) for this purpose when speaking Japanese. 

Similar to its tone in English, depending on how you say it, Maa can mean that you’re taking something lightly or not seriously enough, to the point of mocking. When used in a milder tone, it simply means, “Well…”.

Of course, as much as I try to make a clear distinction between all of these filler words, just like many others I have covered so far, Maa also changes depending on the context, inflection, or where it’s used in a sentence.

For example, when used with an exclaiming tone or at the beginning of a sentence, あら、まぁ！ (ara maa!) can very well mean that you’re surprised or taken aback by something. 

On the other hand, when it’s repeated, as in まぁ まぁ (mā mā), it can also mean “So-so”, or “There, there” to comfort someone and imply that nothing can be done or said about the situation. So, once again, it’s all about the context. 

If you’ve read my other posts, such as navigating communication in the workplace, you know that reading context cues is a big thing in Japanese. So, the ability to interpret social context is something you should work on if you’re dedicated to learning Japanese and come from a more open/verbal background.

うん (Un): Umm in Japanese

If you ever find yourself at a loss for words, needing a moment to think, うん (Un, Uun) should be your go-to filler word. This is especially suitable for moments when you want to think before answering or making a decision.

As it sounds similar to Umm in English, it’s also similar in meaning and use. This is because it’s an onomatopoeia, meaning the word comes from the sound we hear. So, it’s also similar to “Hmm…” if that’s what you prefer as your “thinking” sound.

Just like it can be used as a thinking sound, the “thinking before speaking” vibe of the sound can also indicate a hesitation to speak up or say something that’s hard to say. When used in this context, the vowel is dragged out longer to signify hesitation. 

For instance, when your friend asks you which shoe you like better, you may say うーん . . . 赤いものが好きです which can be interpreted as “Umm… I like the red one.”

そうか (Sōka): I See!, Is That So?, Ah in Japanese

Another flexible filler word you can use in your daily life, そうか (Sōka) can be an exclamation, just like Haa, and is used to react to something in a surprised, shocked way. However, there’s a meaning of “Ah, gotcha” here as well, meaning you understand something that’s explained to you.

However, if you want to use it this way, remember that this is a casual expression used in informal settings. To use it at work or when speaking to someone older or at a higher rank than you, it’s more fitting to say そうですか (sou desu ka) instead.

Alternatively, if you’re in a super casual setting or among very close friends, you can use the more casual version of the word そっか (sokka). The nuance may not be clear for a beginner, but you’ll start to hear it and its pronunciation in no time. 

Until then, when in doubt, you can just use one of the alternatives I shared above to be certain.

Conclusion on Japanese Filler Words

As we’ve explored, Japanese filler words are important for sounding like a native and sounding natural when speaking in daily life.

These words can take your beginner-level Japanese up a notch, helping you understand the culture better in the process. 

So, use filler words in your daily conversations whenever you can. As I said, using them sparingly is ideal, but no one will blame a beginner-level learner for using too many fillers anyway.

Besides, filler words are a great way to buy time, which you’ll need as a Japanese learner. After all, it’s normal for everyone to stop and momentarily think in the middle of speaking, and you certainly won’t stand out if you stall for too much as a learner.

While this is all I have on Japanese filler words, if you want to dive deeper into learning Japanese, check out my guide to the best Japanese learning tools after this. Also, if you’re considering Japanese language schools, my review of Japanese language schools and whether they’re worth it is another great read.