Japanese for Clarifying: How to Say 'I Didn't Catch That' and 'What Do You Mean?'
Learn elementary Japanese phrases to ask someone to repeat or rephrase when you don't understand, with polite and casual options for real conversations.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When you're talking with someone in Japanese and you miss a word or don't understand their meaning, you need a reliable way to ask them to repeat or rephrase. This lesson teaches you exactly that: how to say 'I didn't catch that' and 'What do you mean?' in natural, polite Japanese. You'll learn set phrases, how to use them in conversation, and how to avoid common mistakes. By the end, you'll be able to keep a conversation going even when you're confused, without switching to English or giving up.
By the end, you can…
- ask someone to repeat what they said in polite Japanese.
- ask for clarification when I don't understand the meaning.
- use casual and polite forms appropriately with different people.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
すみません、もう一度お願いします。
Excuse me, one more time please.
Sumimasen, mō ichido onegaishimasu.
Polite and versatile. Use when you didn't catch what someone said and want them to repeat it.
よく聞こえませんでした。
I couldn't hear you well.
Yoku kikoemasen deshita.
Polite past tense. Use when the problem was hearing, not understanding the words.
どういう意味ですか。
What does that mean? / What do you mean?
Dō iu imi desu ka.
Polite. Use when you heard the words but don't understand the meaning.
もう少しゆっくり話してください。
Please speak a little more slowly.
Mō sukoshi yukkuri hanashite kudasai.
Polite request. Use when the speaker is talking too fast for you to follow.
え、何て？
Huh? What did you say?
E, nante?
Casual. Use only with close friends or family. It's short for 何て言ったの？ (nante itta no?).
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask for repetition politely, use すみません、もう一度お願いします (Sumimasen, mō ichido onegaishimasu). You can also say もう一度言ってください (Mō ichido itte kudasai) meaning 'Please say it one more time.' For meaning, use どういう意味ですか (Dō iu imi desu ka). To ask someone to speak more slowly, say もう少しゆっくり話してください (Mō sukoshi yukkuri hanashite kudasai). These patterns work in most everyday situations.
When to use it
Use polite forms like すみません、もう一度お願いします with strangers, colleagues, or anyone older. With close friends, casual forms like え、何て？ (E, nante?) or もう一回言って (Mō ikkai itte) are fine. If you didn't hear because of noise, say よく聞こえませんでした (Yoku kikoemasen deshita). If you heard but don't understand, say どういう意味ですか (Dō iu imi desu ka). Choose based on whether the problem is hearing or understanding.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
明日の会議は九時からです。
Tomorrow's meeting is from nine o'clock.Ashita no kaigi wa kuji kara desu.すみません、よく聞こえませんでした。もう一度お願いします。
Excuse me, I couldn't hear you well. One more time please.Sumimasen, yoku kikoemasen deshita. Mō ichido onegaishimasu.はい、明日の会議は九時からです。
Sure, tomorrow's meeting is from nine o'clock.Hai, ashita no kaigi wa kuji kara desu.ありがとうございます。九時ですね。
Thank you. Nine o'clock, right?Arigatō gozaimasu. Kuji desu ne.A little context goes a long way
In Japanese, it's common to apologize lightly (すみません) before asking for repetition, as it shows consideration for the speaker. Directly saying 聞こえない (kikoenai) without a polite frame can sound abrupt. Also, 何て？ (nante?) is very casual and only for close friends; using it with a superior may seem rude. When in doubt, use the polite forms.
One thing to watch for
Using 何？ (Nani?) alone to ask 'What?' when you didn't catch something.
Try this instead: 何？ can sound blunt or even aggressive. Instead, say すみません、もう一度お願いします (Sumimasen, mō ichido onegaishimasu) or どういう意味ですか (Dō iu imi desu ka) depending on whether you need repetition or meaning.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You didn't hear what your boss said. What polite phrase can you use to ask them to repeat?
Show a sample answer
すみません、もう一度お願いします。
This is polite and appropriate for a boss. You could also say よく聞こえませんでした。もう一度お願いします。 Both are fine.
2Your friend said a word you don't know the meaning of. How do you ask what it means in a polite way?
Show a sample answer
どういう意味ですか。
This directly asks for meaning. With a close friend, you could also say どういう意味？ but the polite form works in most situations.
3Someone is speaking too fast. What phrase asks them to speak more slowly?
Show a sample answer
もう少しゆっくり話してください。
This is a polite request. You can also say ゆっくりお願いします (Yukkuri onegaishimasu) in casual polite contexts.
Use すみません、もう一度お願いします to ask for repetition, and どういう意味ですか to ask for meaning. Adjust politeness to the person you're talking to.
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