ええ

• IPA^(key): [e̞ː]

Possible connection with Min Nan 會(ē/ě) which is sometimes used to respond to signify when one is able to or can do it. (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

ええ (rōmaji ē)

1. yes, indeed

   ええ、その通 (とお)り。

   Ē, sono tōri.

   Indeed.

2. oh (utterance of surprise)
3. well, let me see
4. what?

• (yes): はい (hai), うん (un), そう (sō), ああ (ā)
• (surprise): あら (ara)
• (well): あの (ano)

Sound shift from 良い (ei).

ええ (rōmaji ē)

1. (dialectal) good
   • 2000 July 25, 時雨沢恵一, chapter 3, in キノの旅 -the Beautiful World-, OCLC 174095903:

     「レール、長 (なが)年 (ねん)使 (つか)ってないわりには、ずいぶんきれいですよね？」
     すると老 (ろう)人 (じん)は、
     「ああ、ずっとじゃ。不 (ふ)思 (し)議 (ぎ)じゃのう。しかし、おかげで外 (はず)しやすくてええよ」

     “Rēru, naganen tsukattenai wari ni wa, zuibun kirei desu yo ne?”
     suru to rōjin wa,
     “ā, zutto ja. Fushigi ja nō. Shikashi, o-kage de hazushiyasukute ē yo”

     "These tracks are quite clean, considering how they haven't been used in ages, aren't they?"
     The old man replied:
     "Yes, they've always been like this. It's strange. But it's nice; it makes them easier to remove."

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