How to Accept and Decline Invitations Politely in Japanese
Learn beginner-level Japanese phrases to accept or decline invitations politely, with formal and casual forms and ways to soften a refusal.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
In Japanese, accepting or declining an invitation is not only about yes or no. You often need to show that you understood the invitation, respond with the right politeness level, and, when declining, soften the refusal so it does not sound blunt. This lesson teaches beginner-friendly patterns for accepting and declining invitations. You will learn formal and informal versions, how to thank the person for asking, and how to give a gentle reason or a vague excuse when you cannot go. The focus is on responding to invitations, not on making them.
By the end, you can…
- accept an invitation politely in formal and informal Japanese.
- decline an invitation without sounding rude, using softening phrases and a brief reason.
- choose between formal and casual responses based on the person and situation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
ぜひ行きます。
I'd love to go. / I'll definitely go.
zehi ikimasu
A positive, polite acceptance. ぜひ (zehi) adds enthusiasm: 'by all means' or 'definitely.' Use with acquaintances, coworkers, or someone older. Note that ぜひ more naturally pairs with requests or wishes (e.g., ぜひ来てください 'please do come'); with a plain statement like 行きます it can sound slightly emphatic, but it is still acceptable.
行きたいです。
I want to go. / I'd like to go.
ikitai desu
A polite way to accept while expressing your desire. Softer than a flat 行きます (ikimasu) and common in everyday polite conversation.
いいですね。行きます。
That sounds nice. I'll go.
ii desu ne. ikimasu
A friendly polite acceptance. いいですね (ii desu ne) reacts positively to the invitation before you say yes.
せっかくですが、行けません。
Thank you for the kind offer, but I can't go.
sekkaku desu ga, ikemasen
A polite refusal. せっかくですが (sekkaku desu ga) means 'I appreciate the effort/offer, but...' It softens the refusal. 行けません (ikemasen) is the polite negative potential form of 行く (iku, 'go'), literally 'cannot go.'
すみません、ちょっと都合が悪いです。
I'm sorry, but it's a bit inconvenient for me.
sumimasen, chotto tsugō ga warui desu
A common softened refusal. ちょっと (chotto, 'a little') makes the refusal less direct. 都合が悪い (tsugō ga warui) means 'the timing/situation is bad for me.'
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
For accepting, a safe polite pattern is ぜひ + verb in polite form. Example: ぜひ行きます (zehi ikimasu, 'I'll definitely go'). You can also say 行きたいです (ikitai desu, 'I'd like to go'). For declining, a useful pattern is せっかくですが、〜ません (sekkaku desu ga, ...masen). Example: せっかくですが、行けません (sekkaku desu ga, ikemasen, 'Thank you, but I can't go'). Here 行けません is the polite negative potential form of 行く (iku, 'go'), meaning 'cannot go.' Another soft pattern is すみません、ちょっと… (sumimasen, chotto..., 'Sorry, it's a bit...'). The word ちょっと (chotto) often signals a gentle refusal without giving a full explanation.
When to use it
Use ぜひ行きます (zehi ikimasu) or 行きたいです (ikitai desu) with coworkers, teachers, or people you do not know well. With close friends, casual forms are natural: 行く (iku, 'I'll go'), 行きたい (ikitai, 'I want to go'), or いいね、行く (ii ne, iku, 'Sounds good, I'll go'). For declining, formal situations call for せっかくですが、行けません (sekkaku desu ga, ikemasen). With friends, ごめん、ちょっと行けない (gomen, chotto ikenai, 'Sorry, I can't go') is common. If you are declining someone older or a superior, add すみません (sumimasen) or 申し訳ありません (mōshiwake arimasen) to show respect. Note that 申し訳ありません is quite formal and is often used in business or very polite contexts.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
土曜日に映画を見ませんか。
Would you like to see a movie on Saturday?Doyōbi ni eiga o mimasen ka.いいですね。ぜひ行きます。
That sounds nice. I'd love to go.Ii desu ne. Zehi ikimasu.じゃあ、日曜日のランチはどうですか。
Then how about lunch on Sunday?Jā, nichiyōbi no ranchi wa dō desu ka.すみません、ちょっと都合が悪いです。せっかくですが、行けません。
I'm sorry, it's a bit inconvenient. Thank you for the offer, but I can't go.Sumimasen, chotto tsugō ga warui desu. Sekkaku desu ga, ikemasen.A little context goes a long way
In Japanese, a direct いいえ (iie, 'no') can sound harsh when refusing an invitation. People often soften a refusal with すみません (sumimasen), ちょっと (chotto), or せっかくですが (sekkaku desu ga). A vague reason such as 都合が悪い (tsugō ga warui) is often enough; you do not need to give a detailed excuse. Politeness also depends on the relationship: casual forms are fine with close friends, but polite forms are safer with coworkers, teachers, and new acquaintances. Note that せっかくですが is a set phrase that literally means 'it is a rare/valuable opportunity, but...' and is used to show appreciation for the offer before declining.
One thing to watch for
Declining with a blunt いいえ、行きません (iie, ikimasen, 'No, I won't go').
Try this instead: Soften the refusal. Say すみません、ちょっと行けません (sumimasen, chotto ikemasen, 'Sorry, I can't go') or せっかくですが、行けません (sekkaku desu ga, ikemasen, 'Thank you, but I can't go'). These show appreciation for the invitation and avoid sounding cold. Note that 行けません is the negative potential form of 行く (iku, 'go'), meaning 'cannot go.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you politely accept an invitation with enthusiasm?
Show a sample answer
ぜひ行きます。
ぜひ (zehi) means 'definitely' or 'by all means,' and 行きます (ikimasu) is the polite form of 'go.' 行きたいです (ikitai desu, 'I'd like to go') is also a correct polite acceptance.
2What is a polite way to decline an invitation while thanking the person?
Show a sample answer
せっかくですが、行けません。
せっかくですが (sekkaku desu ga) shows you appreciate the offer, and 行けません (ikemasen) is the polite negative potential form of 行く (iku, 'go'), meaning 'cannot go.' すみません、ちょっと行けません (sumimasen, chotto ikemasen) is also acceptable.
3Which casual phrase can you use to accept an invitation from a close friend?
Show a sample answer
いいね、行く。
いいね (ii ne) means 'sounds good,' and 行く (iku) is the casual form of 'go.' 行きたい (ikitai, 'I want to go') is another natural casual acceptance.
Accept with ぜひ行きます or 行きたいです, and decline softly with すみません、ちょっと… or せっかくですが、行けません. Match the politeness level to the person and situation.
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