🗣️🤔

How to Say ‘I think I told you’ in Japanese

お伝えしたと思うんですが

o tsutae shi ta to omou n desu ga

[oh tsoo-tah-eh shee tah toh o-mo-u n dess gah]

💬 Usage Tip: Ending with んですが (n desu ga) leaves the sentence trailing, as if adding "but..." and letting the listener fill in the rest. It works for any gentle objection: 予約したんですが "I made a reservation, but...".

🇯🇵 In Japan: Saying "I think I told you" rather than "I told you" points out the driver's mistake without blaming them, which is how you'd normally correct someone in Japan.

Phrase Breakdown

お伝えした

o tsutae shi ta

I told (you)

Humble form of 伝える (to tell, to convey). 'お〜した' makes it polite and modest. Pronounce it o-tsu-ta-e-shi-ta, with a clear 'tsu'.

Example

住所はもうお伝えしました。

I have already told you the address.

Words in this phrase

お

[oh]

honorific prefix

お adds politeness to certain words and expressions.

Example

チケットを二枚お願いします。

Two tickets, please.

伝え

tsutae

[tsoo-tah-eh]

convey; tell

The verb stem meaning to convey information or tell someone something.

Example

この気持ちを伝えたいです。

I want to convey these feelings.

し

shi

[shee]

し is the stem of する, meaning to do.

Example

予約しします。

I do the reservation.

た

[tah]

past tense ending

This ending completes the polite past tense form.

Example

空席がございました。

There were vacant seats.

と思うんですが

to omou n desu ga

I think..., but

'と思う' means 'I think that'. 'んですが' softens the sentence and leaves it open, so it sounds polite and not pushy.

Example

明日は雨だと思うんですが。

I think it will rain tomorrow, but...

Words in this phrase

と

[toh]

that (quotation)

Particle marking what is thought or said.

Example

雨が降ると思う。

I think it will rain.

思う

omou

[o-mo-u]

think

To have an idea or opinion.

Example

彼を思う。

I think of him.

ん

[n]

explanatory tone

ん adds an explanatory or noticing tone, like “so...” or “I see...”

Example

そう言うんですね。

So that’s how you say it, huh.

です

desu

[dess]

is; am; are

A basic polite copula used to say 'is/am/are.'

Example

田中です。

I am Tanaka.

が

[gah]

but

Softens the phrase and leads into offering the gift politely.

Example

つまらないものですが、どうぞ。

It’s just a small thing, but please accept it.

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