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Jordan Jordan
How to say "What does _____ mean?"
Say, in conversation, you don't understand a particular word used, how do you say "what does 'that word' mean?"
Nov 13, 2015 5:44 PM
Answers · 2
1
"What does ___ mean?" (Answers below are from most formal to least)
1.__というのはどういう意味ですか。
2.__っていうのはどういう意味ですか。
3.__って何?
Another useful phrase: "How do you say ___ in English?" (If you want a translation rather than an explanation)
英語で__は何に当たりますか。
(The literal translation is "what does ___ correspond to in English". The literal Japanese phrase for 'how do you say___ in English' in Japanese is very unnatural)
November 13, 2015
1
I would say..
.... はどういう意味ですか
.... wa dōiu imi desu ka
But it might be better to wait for an answer of a native.
November 13, 2015
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Jordan Jordan
Language Skills
English, Japanese
Learning Language
Japanese
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