Xはどういう意味ですか？
X wa dō iu imi desu ka?
The phrase for 'what does x mean in japanese?' in Japanese is Xはどういう意味ですか？ (X wa dō iu imi desu ka?)
This phrase is used to ask for the definition or significance of a specific word or phrase. You can replace 'X' with any word, phrase or kanji you are curious about.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase どういう意味 (dō iu imi) literally breaks down to 'what kind of (dō iu) meaning (imi)'.
Which one should you use?
For the specific nuance of asking what a word means within the Japanese language, you can also use Xは日本語で何を意味しますか？
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a softer and more indirect tone in formal settings, you can use Xはどういう意味でしょうか？ which translates to 'What might X mean?' If you are speaking with friends or family, you can use the informal version Xはどういう意味？ by dropping the 'desu ka' at the end or the casual Xって日本語で何？ Another informal option is Xの意味は何？ In formal situations where you want to request an explanation, Xの意味を教えてください。 means 'Please teach me the meaning of X'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase Xはどういう意味ですか？, the particle 'wa' (は) marks 'X' as the topic of the question.
How do you pronounce it?
X wa dō iu imi desu ka?
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word for 'meaning', 意味 (imi), is also used in the context of 'purpose' or 'intention'. If you ask どういう意味ですか？ while someone is acting strangely, they might think you are asking 'What is your intention?' rather than asking for a definition.
- In very formal settings, asking どういう意味ですか？ can sometimes sound confrontational, as if you are questioning the speaker's intent. To be polite, Japanese speakers often preface the question with すみません (sumimasen) to soften the blow.
- The word 意味 (imi) can be used to describe whether an action was 'worth it' or 'pointless'. Saying 意味がない (imi ga nai) literally means 'there is no meaning' but is used to say something is useless.
Examples in context
- 前髪 (Maegami) は日本語で何を意味しますか？What does "maegami" mean in Japanese?
- この単語 (tango) の意味を教えてください。Please teach me the meaning of this word.
- "Sugoi" って日本語で何？What does "sugoi" mean in Japanese?
- この表現 (hyōgen) の意味は何？What is the meaning of this expression?
