Japanese Conversation Repair: Fixing Misunderstandings with "Iiwake" and Rephrasing
Learn intermediate Japanese repair strategies to fix misunderstandings mid-conversation: rephrasing, clarifying, and confirming what your partner actually meant.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Even at intermediate level, conversations break down. You say something, your partner looks confused, or you realize you misheard a key word. This lesson focuses on repair: the specific moves you make to fix a breakdown, not the broader negotiation of meaning where you shape understanding together over time. You will learn set phrases such as 言い換えると (ii kaeru to, 'to rephrase') and つまり (tsumari, 'in other words'), plus ways to ask someone to repeat or clarify. These strategies keep the conversation moving instead of letting silence or embarrassment take over.
By the end, you can…
- rephrase my own statement when my partner does not understand.
- ask someone to repeat or clarify what they said.
- confirm that I have understood correctly using repair phrases.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
言い換えると、〜です。
To rephrase, it's ...
iikaeru to, ... desu
Use when you want to restate your own point in simpler words.
つまり、〜ということですね。
In other words, you mean ..., right?
tsumari, ... to iu koto desu ne
Use to summarize and confirm your understanding of what the other person said.
すみません、もう一度お願いできますか。
Sorry, could you say that one more time?
sumimasen, mou ichido onegai dekimasu ka
Polite way to ask for repetition without sounding annoyed.
今の、どういう意味ですか。
What does that mean, what you just said?
ima no, dou iu imi desu ka
Casual-neutral way to ask about the meaning of a specific word or phrase.
私の言い方が悪かったです。別の言い方をします。
I phrased that badly. Let me say it another way.
watashi no iikata ga warukatta desu. betsu no iikata o shimasu
Use when you realize your own wording caused the misunderstanding.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core repair pattern is 言い換えると (iikaeru to) + a simpler restatement. For example, if you said 昨日、資料を送付しました (kinou, shiryou o soufu shimashita, 'I sent the documents yesterday') and your partner looks lost, you can repair with 言い換えると、昨日メールを送ったということです (iikaeru to, kinou meeru o okutta to iu koto desu, 'to rephrase, I sent an email yesterday'). Notice that the repair often uses plainer vocabulary and adds ということです to frame the restatement as a summary.
When to use it
Use repair phrases immediately after a breakdown signal: a confused look, a pause, or a direct え？ (e?, 'huh?'). For example, if your partner says え、どういうこと？ (e, dou iu koto?, 'huh, what do you mean?'), respond with つまり、〜ということですね (tsumari, ... to iu koto desu ne) to check your understanding, or 言い換えると、〜 (iikaeru to, ...) to restate. Avoid repeating the exact same sentence louder; that is not repair, it is repetition. Repair means changing the wording or confirming meaning.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
来週の会議、水曜日に変更になりました。
Next week's meeting has been changed to Wednesday.raishuu no kaigi, suiyoubi ni henkou ni narimashitaえ、すみません、もう一度お願いできますか。
Huh, sorry, could you say that one more time?e, sumimasen, mou ichido onegai dekimasu ka言い換えると、会議は水曜日です。月曜日じゃありません。
To rephrase, the meeting is on Wednesday. It's not Monday.iikaeru to, kaigi wa suiyoubi desu. getsuyoubi ja arimasenああ、つまり水曜日に変わったんですね。わかりました。
Ah, in other words, it changed to Wednesday. Got it.aa, tsumari suiyoubi ni kawatta n desu ne. wakarimashitaA little context goes a long way
In Japanese conversation, repair is often softened with すみません (sumimasen) or ちょっと (chotto) before asking for repetition, especially with acquaintances or superiors. Directly saying わからない (wakaranai, 'I don't get it') can sound blunt; よくわからないんですが (yoku wakaranai n desu ga, 'I'm not quite following, but...') is a gentler repair opener. With close friends, え？ (e?) or どういうこと？ (dou iu koto?) is fine.
One thing to watch for
Repeating the same sentence more slowly and loudly when your partner does not understand.
Try this instead: Repair requires changing the wording or confirming meaning. For example, instead of repeating 送付しました (soufu shimashita) again, say 言い換えると、メールを送ったということです (iikaeru to, meeru o okutta to iu koto desu, 'to rephrase, I sent an email').
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Your partner looks confused after you say 来週、東京に出張します。Rephrase using 言い換えると.
Show a sample answer
言い換えると、来週、東京へ行きます。
This works because 出張します (shucchou shimasu, 'go on a business trip') is replaced with the simpler 行きます (ikimasu, 'go'). Other valid repairs include つまり、来週は東京です (tsumari, raishuu wa toukyou desu).
2You did not catch what your colleague said. Ask them politely to repeat it.
Show a sample answer
すみません、もう一度お願いできますか。
This is polite and natural. With close friends, もう一回言って (mou ikkai itte) is also fine, but it is too casual for a workplace.
3You think you understood your partner's point. Confirm it using つまり.
Show a sample answer
つまり、来週は会議がないということですね。
Adding ということですね frames your understanding as a confirmation. つまり alone can also work, but the full pattern sounds more natural in conversation.
When communication breaks down, do not just repeat yourself. Use 言い換えると to restate, つまり to confirm, and すみません、もう一度お願いできますか to ask for repetition. Repair keeps the conversation alive.
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