Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Say" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "say", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
言う
いう (iu)
N5 / 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 言う and おっしゃる.
In Japanese, 言う (いう (iu)) is typically associated with "to say, to tell" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Used to report what someone says, to express one's own thoughts, or to tell something. Polite form is 言います.
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 "言う"
先生が「おはよう」と言いました。
The teacher said, "Good morning."
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: "先生が「おはよう」と言いました。" (Meaning: "The teacher said, "Good morning."")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "言う" fits here because it means "to say, to tell" in the context of: "The teacher said, "Good morning."". "おっしゃる" represents "to say (honorific form of 言う)".