何て言ってほしいの？
nante itte hoshii no?
In Japanese, "what do you want me to say?" is expressed as 何て言ってほしいの？ (nante itte hoshii no?)
This phrase is used to ask someone what specific words or response they would like to hear. It is often used in emotional or confrontational contexts when a speaker feels there is no 'correct' or satisfying answer to give.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from nante (what/how), itte (saying), hoshii (want) and no (question particle).
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb itte is the te-form of iu (to say), which is required here to connect to the hoshii (want) construction. Dropping the final no makes the question more direct and casual, as in 何て言ってほしい？
How do you pronounce it?
nante itte hoshii no?
Did you know?
- Japanese culture often emphasizes 'reading the air' (kuuki wo yomu), making the act of explicitly asking what do you want me to say? a sign of significant tension or a breakdown in communication.
- In highly masculine or rough speech, the soft no ending is often replaced by a blunt ka, which turns the phrase from a plea into a challenge.
- Depending on the tone, this phrase can function as a 'rhetorical' question, implying that the speaker believes there is no possible answer that would satisfy the other person.
Examples in context
- 何て言ってほしいの？nante itte hoshii no?What do you want me to say?
- 結局、私に何て言ってほしいの？kekkyoku, watashi ni nante itte hoshii no?In the end, what do you want me to say?
- 謝る以外に、何て言ってほしいの？ayamaru igai ni, nante itte hoshii no?Besides apologizing, what do you want me to say?
Example conversation
A couple is having a heated argument in their living room.
- 蓮 Ren本当にごめん。僕が悪かった。hontou ni gomen. boku ga warukatta.I'm truly sorry. It was my fault.
- 陽葵 Himariそんな言葉、聞き飽きたよ。sonna kotoba, kikiakita yo.I'm tired of hearing those words.
- 蓮 Renじゃあ、何て言ってほしいの？jaa, nante itte hoshii no?Then, what do you want me to say?
- 陽葵 Himari言葉じゃなくて、行動で示して。kotoba janakute, koudou de shimeshite.Don't show it with words, show it with actions.
