💬❓

How to Say ‘What did they say?’ in Japanese

何と言っていましたか。

nan to itsu te i mashi ta ka

[nan toh EET teh ee mah-shee tah ka]

💬 Usage Tip: と marks the words someone said, like quotation marks. 何と (nan to) means "what" as in "said what"; 何 is read (nan) here, not (nani).

Phrase Breakdown

何と言って

nan to itsu te

saying what

何と (nan to) means 'what' as a quotation, and 言って (itte) comes from 言う (to say). Pause on the small 'tt' in 'itte'.

Example

何と言って断りましたか。

What did you say when you declined?

Words in this phrase

何

nan

[nan]

what

何 means what; in 何時 it helps ask 'what time'.

Example

何時に始まりますか。

What time does it start?

と

[toh]

(quotation marker)

Particle that marks what was said or written, like quotation marks.

Example

彼は「はい」と言いました。

He said "yes."

言っ

itsu

[EET]

say (te-stem)

Stem of 言う used before て.

Example

名前を言ってください。

Please say your name.

て

[teh]

and; -te form

A linking form used to connect verbs to following grammar, such as progressive or polite forms.

Example

仕事を探している人と話しました。

I spoke with a person who is looking for work.

いましたか。

i mashi ta ka

were (they)...?

～ていましたか makes 'were saying' into a polite past question. Say 'i-ma-shi-ta-ka' with a rising end.

Example

誰が待っていましたか。

Who was waiting?

Words in this phrase

い

[ee]

be; ongoing state part

Part of the continuous form that shows an action is currently happening.

Example

今も条件を比べている最中です。

I am still in the middle of comparing conditions.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite past stem

Part of the polite past ending in a verb phrase.

Example

昨日は多くのことを学びました。

I learned many things yesterday.

た

[tah]

past tense marker

Indicates past tense.

Example

彼は来た。

He came.

か

[ka]

question particle

Used to create a yes/no question in informal speech.

Example

行くか？

Shall we go?

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