In western and Japanese, The word "yes" is a different The word yes may not always mean “yes” in the Western sense. Japanese people may say yes to confirm they have heard or understood something but not necessarily to indicate that they agree with it. You’ll seldom get a direct no. Some of the ways that Japanese people say no indirectly include “It will be difficult,” “I will ask my supervisor,” “I’m not sure,” “We will think about it,” and “I see.”