Go Natural English Podcast | Listening & Speaking Lessons

How to Say "No" Without Feeling Bad

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Oct 31, 2025

Learn how to say "no" without feeling guilty using the 5 C's Framework! Discover why mastering refusal earns you respect and explore cultural differences in communication styles. Get practical phrases like "Let me check and get back to you" and techniques for handling tough situations with empathy. Perfect for business negotiations, this lesson includes tone tips to convey confidence. Role-play examples illustrate how to maintain professionalism while politely declining requests.

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ANECDOTE

Recovering Yes Person Realization

Gabby describes herself as a recovering "yes" person who used to always say yes and feared upsetting others.
She learned that saying no earns respect and can improve relationships when done correctly.

INSIGHT

Cultural Differences In Saying No

Gabby explains that directness about saying no varies by culture, with the U.S. being direct and places like Japan more indirect.
She argues there are polite ways to be direct that work across cultures.

ADVICE

Buy Time With "Check"

Use "Check" to buy time by saying, "Let me check and get back to you."
This delays immediate pressure and lets you consider the request calmly.

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🗣 Business English for Negotiations — How to Say "No" Without Sounding Rude

Learn how to say "no" politely and confidently in English! In this Business English lesson, you'll discover 5 professional ways to say "no" without offending anyone — perfect for meetings, negotiations, and workplace conversations.

You'll learn my 5 C's Framework for polite refusals — practical phrases, real examples, tone tips, and short dialogues to sound confident in business English conversations.

🎯 What You'll Learn

✅ How to say "no" politely and professionally in English ✅ 5C's method: Check, Conditional Yes, Choice, Care, and Close ✅ Real negotiation dialogues for business situations ✅ Pronunciation and intonation to sound natural ✅ Why "no" earns respect — not rejection

💬 Useful Phrases

"Let me check and get back to you by Friday."
"We can do that if we extend the deadline."
"That may not work, but what if we try this approach?"
"I completely understand, but unfortunately that's beyond our budget."
"I appreciate the offer, but we'll have to decline at this time."

⏰ Timestamps

00:00 – Why saying "no" is so hard 00:15 – Recovering from being a "yes" person 00:35 – Why saying no earns respect 01:13 – When to use the 5 C's method 01:28 – Let's get started 01:36 – Why this is an essential skill 02:03 – Introducing the 5 C's Framework 02:28 – Fluent Communication 5.0 invitation 03:00 – Cultural differences: what "no" means around the world 03:32 – Direct vs. indirect communication (US, Japan, Brazil) 04:46 – How to be politely direct 05:02 – C1: Check (Delay Technique) 05:40 – Example: responding to your boss 05:57 – Why "Check" buys you time 06:09 – C2: Conditional Yes 06:28 – Example: realistic negotiation condition 06:50 – C3: Choice (Offer an alternative) 07:03 – Example: different timeline 07:20 – C4: Care (Show empathy) 07:52 – Example: understanding the other person's stress 08:41 – C5: Close Firmly (Polite but clear "No") 09:13 – Use softeners like "just" or "at this time" 09:34 – Pronunciation: rising vs. falling tone 09:54 – Practice tone examples 10:12 – Role Play 1: Client asks for a discount 10:44 – Role Play 2: Boss asks for extra work 11:10 – Quiz & Recap of the 5 C's 12:40 – Why clear "no" = respect and confidence 13:00 – Next lesson preview: How to say "Yes" effectively 13:52 – Subscribe & join Fluent Communication 5.0 waitlist 14:08 – Closing

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Episode keywords: business english, how to say no politely, polite english phrases, english for professionals, english at work, negotiation english, english communication skills, business english conversation, how to refuse politely, english fluency training, english conversation practice, professional english speaking, fluent communication, gonaturalenglish, english lessons for advanced learners