How to Say You Have No Strong Opinion in Japanese
Learn elementary Japanese phrases to express a neutral stance and avoid taking sides, using どちらでもいいです and related expressions.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
Sometimes you need to say that you do not have a strong opinion either way, without agreeing or disagreeing. In Japanese, this is often done with the phrase どちらでもいいです (dochira demo ii desu), which literally means 'either is good.' This lesson teaches you how to use this and similar expressions to stay neutral. You will learn to avoid commitment politely in everyday situations, such as choosing between two options or responding to a request for your preference. The focus is on neutral stance, not on agreement or disagreement.
By the end, you can…
- say 'I don't have strong feelings either way' in Japanese.
- use どちらでもいいです and similar phrases to avoid taking sides.
- respond neutrally when asked to choose between two options.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
どちらでもいいです。
Either one is fine. / I don't have a preference.
Dochira demo ii desu.
Use when asked to choose between two options. It means you are okay with either.
どちらでもかまいません。
Either is okay with me. (more polite)
Dochira demo kamaimasen.
A politer version of どちらでもいいです. Use in formal situations or with superiors.
私はどちらでもいいです。
As for me, either is fine.
Watashi wa dochira demo ii desu.
Adding 私は makes it clear that you are speaking about your own preference.
特にこだわりはありません。
I don't have any particular preference.
Toku ni kodawari wa arimasen.
Use when you want to say you have no strong feelings about a matter, not just two options.
どっちでもいいよ。
Either is fine. (casual)
Dotchi demo ii yo.
Casual version of どちらでもいいです. Use with friends or people close to you.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is どちらでもいいです (dochira demo ii desu). どちら (dochira) means 'which' (of two), でも (demo) here means 'either' or 'any,' and いいです (ii desu) means 'is good.' Together, it means 'either is good.' You can replace いいです with かまいません (kamaimasen) for more politeness: どちらでもかまいません. For more than two options, use どれでもいいです (dore demo ii desu), meaning 'any is fine.' To specify that it's your opinion, add 私は (watashi wa) at the beginning: 私はどちらでもいいです.
When to use it
Use these phrases when someone asks you to choose between two things, such as a restaurant or a time, and you truly have no preference. For example, if a friend asks 昼ごはんは和食と洋食とどっちがいい？ (Which do you want for lunch, Japanese or Western?), you can reply どちらでもいいです. Avoid using these phrases when you actually do have a preference but want to be polite; in that case, it's better to state your preference with ～がいいです. Also, in formal situations, use どちらでもかまいません instead of the casual どっちでもいいよ.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
昼ごはんは和食と洋食とどちらがいいですか。
Which would you prefer for lunch, Japanese or Western food?Hirugohan wa washoku to yōshoku to dochira ga ii desu ka.私はどちらでもいいです。
Either is fine with me.Watashi wa dochira demo ii desu.じゃあ、和食にしましょうか。
Then, shall we go with Japanese food?Jā, washoku ni shimashō ka.はい、そうしましょう。
Yes, let's do that.Hai, sō shimashō.A little context goes a long way
In Japanese communication, expressing a neutral stance can be a way to avoid imposing your preference on others and to maintain harmony. However, saying どちらでもいいです too often might make you seem indecisive. It's often better to state a preference if you have one, or to add a reason if you truly don't mind. Also, note that どちらでもいいです can sometimes sound blunt if used with superiors; in such cases, どちらでもかまいません is safer.
One thing to watch for
Using どちらでもいいです when you actually have a preference but want to be polite.
Try this instead: If you have a preference, it's better to say it directly, for example, 私は和食がいいです (I prefer Japanese food). Using どちらでもいいです when you don't mean it can lead to misunderstandings.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'Either is fine' politely in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
どちらでもいいです。
This is the standard polite way. For more formality, どちらでもかまいません is also correct.
2What is the casual version of どちらでもいいです?
Show a sample answer
どっちでもいいよ。
どっち is the casual form of どちら, and いいよ is casual for いいです. Use with friends.
3If there are three options, which phrase do you use?
Show a sample answer
どれでもいいです。
どれでもいいです means 'any is fine' and is used for three or more options. どちらでもいいです is only for two.
Use どちらでもいいです to express a neutral stance between two options, and どれでもいいです for three or more. Remember to adjust politeness based on the situation.
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