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
申し上げる
もうしあげる (moushiageru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "say" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 言う and 申し上げる.
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, 申し上げる (もうしあげる (moushiageru)) maps to "to say, to tell, to state (humble form of 言う)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents 謙譲語（けんじょうご）。相手への敬意を示し、自分の行為をへりくだって言う時に使います。ビジネスシーンなどでよく使われます。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 "申し上げる"
先生に感謝の気持ちを申し上げました。
I expressed my gratitude to my teacher.
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."". "申し上げる" represents "to say, to tell, to state (humble form of 言う)".