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
もうす
もうす (mousu)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "say" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 言う and もうす.
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, もうす (もうす (mousu)) maps to "to say, to be called (humble form of 言う)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Humble 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 "もうす"
田中と申します。
My name is Tanaka (humble).
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."". "もうす" represents "to say, to be called (humble form of 言う)".