聞いたっけ？
kiitakke?
The phrase "did I ask?" in Japanese is 聞いたっけ？ (kiitakke?)
This phrase is used as a question to verify whether the speaker had previously asked for a specific piece of information.
How do you pronounce it?
kiitakke?
Did you know?
- The verb 聞く (kiku), found in the root of the phrase, is a homonym that can mean both 'to ask' and 'to listen', depending on the context and pitch.
- Using 聞いたっけ？ in a business setting with a superior would be considered rude due to its casual form. A polite speaker would use 伺いましたっけ？ to show respect to the listener.
- The grammar of っけ is only used for things the speaker has actually known or experienced in the past, making it useless for asking about things the speaker never knew.
Examples in context
- さっき、そんなこと聞いたっけ？Sakki, sonna koto kiitatte?Did I ask something like that just now?
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are planning a trip together.
- 結衣 Yuiホテルの予約はもう終わったよ。hoteru no yoyaku wa mou owatta yo.I've already finished the hotel reservation.
- 健太 Kentaありがとう、助かるよ。arigatou, tasukaru yo.Thanks, that helps a lot.
- 結衣 Yui予算についてはどうする？yosan ni tsuite wa dou suru?What about the budget?
- 健太 Kentaあれ、そのこと聞いたっけ？are, sono koto kiitakke?Oh, did I ask about that?
