How do you say "It felt like a detour." in Japanese?

"It felt like a detour." in Japanese is "遠回りだった気がします。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

What does "遠回りだった気がします。" mean in English?

"遠回りだった気がします。" means "It felt like a detour." in English.

↪️🤔

How to Say ‘It felt like a detour.’ in Japanese

遠回りだった気がします。

toomawari datsu ta ki ga shi masu

[toh-oh-mah-wah-ree daht tah kee gah shee mahss]

🇯🇵 In Japan: This is a cautious accusation, not a direct one. Saying it this way gives the other person room to explain, which is often the smoother path in Japan before escalating.

Phrase Breakdown

遠回りだった

toomawari datsu ta

was a detour; was going the long way

Describes something in the past as being indirect or longer than expected.

Example

今日は少し遠回りだった。

Today, it was a bit of a detour.

Words in this phrase

遠回り

toomawari

[toh-oh-mah-wah-ree]

detour; going the long way

The route seems to have been unnecessarily long.

Example

遠回りだった気がします。と伝えました。

I said, “I feel it was a detour.”

だっ

datsu

[daht]

was (part of past casual form)

Part of だった, showing past judgment.

Example

遠回りだった気がします。とやんわり言いました。

I gently said, “I feel it was a detour.”

た

[tah]

past marker part

Completes だった, meaning “was.”

Example

遠回りだった気がします。と確認しました。

I said, “I feel it was a detour,” to confirm.

気がします

ki ga shi masu

I feel like; I have a feeling that

A soft way to express a personal impression or uncertainty, often translating as 'I feel like...'

Example

正しかった気がします。

I feel like it was correct.

Words in this phrase

気

[kee]

feeling; sense

Softens the statement so it sounds less direct.

Example

遠回りだった気がします。と控えめに話しました。

I said, “I feel it was a detour,” in a restrained way.

が

[gah]

subject marker

Marks 気 in the set phrase 気がします.

Example

遠回りだった気がします。と相手に伝えました。

I told the other person, “I feel it was a detour.”

し

shi

[shee]

do (stem part)

Part of します in the phrase 気がします.

Example

遠回りだった気がします。と丁寧に述べました。

I politely stated, “I feel it was a detour.”

ます

masu

[mahss]

do; polite ending

Completes the polite expression 気がします.

Example

遠回りだった気がします。と運転手さんに言いました。

I told the driver, “I feel it was a detour.”

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”

Mia S., 25, English Teacher

“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”

Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer

“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”

Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager