How do you say "Next time (a polite no)" in Japanese?

Name: When a Japanese Friend Says 'Next Time', They Often Mean No
Uploaded: 2026-07-21T01:59:06Z
Duration: 55 s
Description: Learn to say また今度 (mata kondo) — Next time (a polite no). A 30-second Japanese lesson for travelers from Kōfuku.

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When a Japanese Friend Says 'Next Time', They Often Mean No

To say Next time (a polite no) in Japanese, say また今度 (mata kondo).

They didn't say no. They said next time. That was the no.

また今度 mata kondo Next time (a polite no)

Intermediate cultural-nuance #learnjapanese #japantravel #japaneseculture #japanesephrases #japanlife

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Why this phrase

A Kōfuku and Hana role-play about one of Japan's softest refusals. Kōfuku invites Hana to a summer fireworks festival; Hana plays the friend who declines without ever saying no, using 「また今度」 and a trailing 「ちょっと…」. Kōfuku then unpacks it for the viewer: why a flat いいえ almost never appears between friends, how to hear the real answer, and how to use また今度 yourself without lying to anyone.