Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Say" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "say", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
もうす
もうす (mousu)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
おっしゃる
おっしゃる (ossharu)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "say" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between もうす and おっしゃる.
In Japanese, もうす (もうす (mousu)) is typically associated with "to say, to be called (humble form of 言う)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Humble form of 言う.
On the other hand, おっしゃる (おっしゃる (ossharu)) maps to "to say (honorific form of 言う)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Honorific form of 言う. A literal translation of "say" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "もうす"
田中と申します。
My name is Tanaka (humble).
Bilingual Context for "おっしゃる"
先生がおっしゃった通り、この問題はとても大切です。
As the teacher said, this problem is very important.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "田中と申します。" (Meaning: "My name is Tanaka (humble).")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "もうす" fits here because it means "to say, to be called (humble form of 言う)" in the context of: "My name is Tanaka (humble).". "おっしゃる" represents "to say (honorific form of 言う)".