How to Say ‘I'm 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: Literally, it's "I got lost on the road". The past ending ました is used because the getting lost has already happened, even though you're still lost now.
Phrase Breakdown
道
michi
[mee-chee]
road; route
Means road, path, or route. In a taxi, it refers to the way to go.
一番早い道でお願いします。
Please take the fastest route.
に
ni
[nee]
in; at; to
Particle indicating location or target state.
手元に置きたいです。
I want to keep it at hand.
迷い
mayoi
[mah-YOH-ee]
get lost; be unsure
Stem of 迷う, to lose one's way or hesitate.
駅で迷いました。
I got lost at the station.
まし
mashi
[mah-shee]
polite past stem
Part of the polite past ending in a verb phrase.
昨日は多くのことを学びました。
I learned many things yesterday.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense ending
This ending completes the polite past tense form.
空席がございまし た。
There were vacant seats.
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