Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "言います", "言う", "おっしゃる", "申し上げる"
All represent the core concept "say", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
言います
いいます (iimasu)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
言う
いう (iu)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
おっしゃる
おっしゃる (ossharu)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
申し上げる
もうしあげる (moushiageru)
N4 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "say" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "言います", "言う", "おっしゃる", "申し上げる" based on context.
- 言います (いいます (iimasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to say, to tell" and is used when Polite form of 言う.
- 言う (いう (iu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to say, to tell" and is used when Used to report what someone says, to express one's own thoughts, or to tell something. Polite form is 言います.
- おっしゃる (おっしゃる (ossharu) - Level: N4): Maps to "to say (honorific form of 言う)" and is used when Honorific form of 言う.
- 申し上げる (もうしあげる (moushiageru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to say, to tell, to state (humble form of 言う)" and is used when 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.
Context for "言います"
先生にありがとうと言います。
I say thank you to the teacher.
Context for "言う"
先生が「おはよう」と言いました。
The teacher said, "Good morning."
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.
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.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "先生にありがとうと ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "I say thank you to the teacher.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "言います" is correct here because it represents "to say, to tell" in the context: "I say thank you to the teacher.".