A short えっ？ is a sharp “huh?” when you can’t believe what you heard. A long えー！ is “what?! / no way!”, and a falling えー… is “ugh, really?”.
えっ？ is fine with anyone. A long えー！ can sound childish, and to a boss it sounds like complaining.
One performer drums while the other is told to dance the Sōran-bushi and pull on some dreadlocks at the same time.
Culture note Sōran-bushi is a Hokkaido fishermen's folk song, and its dance is often performed at Japanese school events.
Huh?!
Textbookえっ、どういうことですか。The whole polite question shrinks to a sharp, rising 'え!?' that shows sudden surprise.
During a breakup talk, one person complains that the other keeps repeating everything they say back to them.
Culture note In one-person sketches, Japanese solo comedians (ピン芸人) often repeat an imaginary partner's lines aloud so the audience knows what was said.
Huh?
Textbookえっ、どういうことですか。The whole polite question shrinks to a short, rising 'え?' that shows surprise and confusion.
At a fancy French restaurant, an unhappy customer asks for the check, pays by card, and asks for loyalty points.
Culture note T-Point is a common Japanese loyalty-points card used at chains like convenience stores, not usually at fancy restaurants.
Huh?
Textbookえっ、本当ですか。'本当ですか' becomes a short, rising 'え?' reacting with surprise to the unheard reply.
A confused person can't understand a strange voice, so another character translates its odd orders about checking their wallet.
Huh?
Textbookえ、何とおっしゃいましたか。A bare, rising 「え?」 replaces a full polite question like 「何とおっしゃいましたか」: instant confusion at words not understood.
One performer gets fed up, says nobody acts like the other's character, and tries to end the act by saying "I'm done."
Culture note Manzai duos traditionally end their act when the straight man says もういいわ ("I've had enough"), and both then bow with どうもありがとうございました ("Thank you very much").
Huh?
Textbookえっ、本当ですか。Instead of '本当ですか', a drawn-out, rising 'えぇ?' shows disbelief.
After ordering chocolate soft-serve, two customers start voicing a suspicion about what it really is while it is being made.
Huh?!
Textbookえっ、本当ですか。Instead of a full 「本当ですか」, the speaker only gasps a short, cut-off 「えっ」 of surprise.
From other routines in the library. Automatic transcripts, not yet checked line by line.
えっ？／えー！ means “huh? / what?!”. A short えっ？ is a sharp “huh?” when you can’t believe what you heard. A long えー！ is “what?! / no way!”, and a falling えー… is “ugh, really?”.
With friends: OK. With coworkers: OK. With a boss or teacher: careful. えっ？ is fine with anyone. A long えー！ can sound childish, and to a boss it sounds like complaining.
In 1,905 live comedy routines, えっ？／えー！ appears in 2,361 lines from 224 comedians.