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How to Say ‘I am lost.’ in Japanese

道に迷いました。

michi ni mayoi mashi ta

[mee-chee nee mah-yoh-ee mah-shee tah]

💬 Usage Tip: [迷いました] is past form, but in Japanese it often describes your present situation: "I'm lost." You'll see this a lot with set phrases about what has happened to you right now.

Phrase Breakdown

michi

[mee-chee]

road / way

A road, street, or way. In this phrase it refers to losing your way.

Example

道は広いです。

The road is wide.

ni

[nee]

in / on

A particle marking the situation or place involved. Here, it is part of the expression for getting lost.

Example

道に人がいます。

There is a person on the road.

迷い

mayoi

[mah-yoh-ee]

get lost

Verb stem of 迷う, meaning to be lost or confused.

Example

駅で迷いました。

I got lost at the station.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite past part

Part of the polite past ending ました.

Example

買いました。

I bought it.

ta

[tah]

past tense ending

Completes the past tense ending ました.

Example

行きました。

I went.

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