How to Say ‘What did you say?!’ in Japanese
何だと？
nan da to
[nan da toh]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Said sharply, 何だと？ is a challenge, like a confrontational "What did you just say?". You'll mostly hear it in dramas and right before an argument escalates.
Phrase Breakdown
何
nan
[nan]
what
何 means what; in 何時 it helps ask 'what time'.
何時に始まりますか。
What time does it start?
だ
da
[da]
be (informal)
Informal form of 'to be' used in casual speech.
今日はいい天気だ。
Today is good weather.
と
to
[toh]
quotation marker ("you said...")
Quotes what someone said; here it challenges their words angrily, like 'What did you say?!'
今、何て言ったと？
What did you just say?
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