How to say "nay" in Japanese

• 否いなCommon
  interjectionThe formal or literary 'no': use it where 'nay' is essentially a dignified way of answering 'no' to a question or proposal, in formal speech or writing.
  彼かれの答こたえは「否いな」であった。↗

  His answer was in the negative.
• ナーイ
  nounA direct katakana borrowing of the English word. It is less common, and unless you are deliberately quoting or echoing the English term, it is seldom the word you want for 'nay'.
• 反対票はんたいひょう
  nounThis covers 'nay' as a noun: a vote against a proposal, as when the nays are counted in a formal vote. It is not the spoken 'no'.

For 'nay' as a formal or literary 'no', use 否; for the English loanword itself, 「ナーイ」; and for 'nay' as a noun meaning a vote against a proposal, 反対票.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 否いなno
• ナーイnay
• 反対票はんたいひょうvote against