24 Japanese Phrases to Say “How Do You Say This?

Learning how to ask “How do you say this?” in Japanese can be a total game-changer. It opens up conversations and helps you pick up new words on the fly.

Whether you’re a beginner or just brushing up, having a variety of ways to ask this question keeps your language skills fresh and natural. Plus, it makes interacting with native speakers way more fun!

In this list, you’ll find 24 different Japanese phrases for asking how to say something. Each one has its own vibe and formality level, so you can fit right in no matter the setting.

Think of it like having a toolkit — sometimes casual, sometimes polite, sometimes super natural — depending on who you’re chatting with and where you are. The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel.

Getting comfortable with these phrases also helps you understand Japanese culture a bit better, since language and culture go hand in hand. Plus, it’s rewarding to see your progress as you dive deeper.

Ready to expand your Japanese asking skills? Let’s jump in and explore these fun, practical ways to ask “How do you say this?”

Why Variety Matters When Asking “How Do You Say This?”

Different situations call for different ways to ask about words. Having options in your Japanese can make your conversations smoother.

Sometimes you want to be casual with friends, other times polite at work or school. Switching up your phrases shows you respect the context and people around you.

It also prevents your Japanese from sounding repetitive, which can be a confidence booster.

Sometimes, using a great beginner phrasebook can give you a perfect starting point for a cohesive understanding.

Plus, practicing different ways to ask helps you pick up subtle grammar and vocabulary nuances along the way.

It’s a simple trick: try out a new phrase each time you ask, and you’ll naturally build up your skillset.

Part 1: Casual Suggestions

1. これ、なんて言うの？ (Kore, nante iu no?) – Koh-reh, nahn-teh ee-oo noh?

This is probably the most natural way to say “How do you say this?” in daily conversation.

“これ (kore)” means “this,” “なんて (nante)” means “how” or “what kind of,” and “言うの (iu no)” means “say.” Put together, it’s like “How do you say this?” but in a relaxed, friendly tone.

It’s great for casual chatting with friends or classmates.

Super simple and direct — perfect for beginners to remember.

If you want to be a bit more playful, you can add “ね (ne)” at the end for a softening effect.

Try using this phrase next time you’re unsure about a word — it’s a friendly way to learn!

2. これ、どう言うの？ (Kore, dou iu no?) – Koh-reh, doh ee-oo noh?

This phrase means “How do you say this?” but uses “どう (dou),” which means “how.”

It’s just another casual way to ask and is very common in spoken Japanese. Easy to remember since “どう” is used in many everyday questions.

Focus on pronouncing “どう (dou)” clearly to avoid confusion.

A common mistake is mixing “どう” with “なに” (nani – what), which changes the meaning.

Example: You’re holding an unfamiliar fruit and ask a friend, “これ、どう言うの？”

This phrase is natural and quick, great for informal chats with peers.

3. これ、なんて言う？ (Kore, nante iu?) – Koh-reh, nahn-teh ee-oo?

This one is a shortened, very casual version of the first phrase.

Dropping the “の (no)” at the end makes it sound more direct, which is common among close friends or younger speakers.

It’s easier to say quickly and feels natural in relaxed settings.

Keep in mind it’s less polite, so best saved for informal use.

Related phrase: “これ、なんて言うの？” is the polite counterpart.

Using this helps you sound more like a native speaker among friends.

4. これ、何て言うんだっけ？ (Kore, nante iun dakke?) – Koh-reh, nahn-teh ee-oon dah-kkeh?

This phrase adds “んだっけ (ndakke)” which implies you’re trying to remember or confirm something.

It’s like saying “What do you call this again?” in a casual tone.

It’s very useful when you’ve heard a word before but forgot it.

Be careful not to overuse it in formal situations since it sounds quite casual.

Try it out when you want to sound natural but also show you’re thinking.

This phrase is great for learning vocabulary in everyday conversations.

5. これ、どう言う意味？ (Kore, dou iu imi?) – Koh-reh, doh ee-oo ee-mee?

Here, you’re asking “What does this mean?” literally, which is another way to clarify a word or phrase.

“意味 (imi)” means “meaning,” so it’s a slightly different approach but often used interchangeably.

It’s casual and easy to say.

Make sure not to confuse it with “どう言うの” which asks how to say something, not what it means.

Example: When learning new kanji, this phrase helps you understand the word.

Great for deepening your vocabulary knowledge naturally.

6. これって何て言うの？ (Kore tte nante iu no?) – Koh-reh tte nahn-teh ee-oo noh?

Adding “って (tte)” makes the phrase a bit more conversational and casual.

It’s like saying “So, how do you say this?” in a friendly way.

Easy to use and common in spoken language.

Watch out not to overuse “って” in formal writing or speech.

Example: Showing a new gadget to a friend, you ask, “これって何て言うの？”

It’s a flexible phrase that fits lots of casual scenarios.

7. これ、何て呼ぶの？ (Kore, nante yobu no?) – Koh-reh, nahn-teh yoh-boo noh?

This phrase means “What do you call this?” focusing on the verb “呼ぶ (yobu)” which means “to call.”

It’s casual and great when you want to know the name of something.

It’s a slightly different nuance but very useful.

Don’t confuse “言う” (to say) with “呼ぶ” (to call) — they’re related but distinct.

Example: Asking your friend the name of a new plant, “これ、何て呼ぶの？”

Try this one for natural, everyday conversations about objects or names.

8. これ、言い方は？ (Kore, iikata wa?) – Koh-reh, ee-kah-tah wah?

“言い方 (iikata)” means “way of saying,” so this phrase literally asks “What is the way to say this?”

It’s casual but slightly more descriptive than just “なんて言うの.”

It’s easy to remember because “言い方” is a common word you’ll see often.

Be mindful that it’s less common in spoken casual speech but useful in learning contexts.

Example: When practicing pronunciation, you might ask “これ、言い方は？”

Great for language learners focusing on phrasing and pronunciation.

Part 2: Polite & Formal Suggestions

9. これは何と言いますか？ (Kore wa nan to iimasu ka?) – Koh-reh wah nahn toh ee-mahss kah?

This is a polite way to ask “How do you say this?” using “言います (iimasu),” the polite form of “言う.”

“これは (kore wa)” means “this,” and “何と (nan to)” means “how.” Adding “か (ka)” makes it a question.

Perfect for formal situations like school or business.

Remember to use polite tone and body language to match.

Example: Asking a teacher the name of a technical term, “これは何と言いますか？”

This phrase helps you sound respectful and serious about learning.

10. こちらは何と申しますか？ (Kochira wa nan to moushimasu ka?) – Koh-chee-rah wah nahn toh moh-shee-mahss kah?

“申します (moushimasu)” is a humble form of “say” used in very polite or formal speech.

“こちら (kochira)” means “this” in a polite or formal way.

This phrase is excellent for business or very respectful conversations.

It might feel a bit stiff for casual chats but great to impress in formal settings.

Example: Asking a client or senior coworker about a term, “こちらは何と申しますか？”

Use this to show humility and politeness in professional environments.

11. これは何と申しますか？ (Kore wa nan to moushimasu ka?) – Koh-reh wah nahn toh moh-shee-mahss kah?

Very similar to the previous phrase but using “これ (kore),” which is slightly less formal than “こちら.”

Great for polite conversations when you want to be respectful but not overly formal.

Easy to remember if you already know “申します.”

Keep your tone humble to match the phrase.

Example: Asking an elder or teacher about a phrase, “これは何と申しますか？”

It’s a polite balance that fits many situations.

12. これはどう言いますか？ (Kore wa dou iimasu ka?) – Koh-reh wah doh ee-mahss kah?

This phrase uses “どう (dou),” meaning “how,” combined with the polite “言います.”

It’s a straightforward and polite way to ask “How do you say this?”

Easy to use and understand in formal settings.

A common mistake is forgetting “か (ka),” which turns the sentence into a question.

Example: Asking a language tutor for correct phrasing, “これはどう言いますか？”

Good for clear, polite communication when learning.

13. これは何とおっしゃいますか？ (Kore wa nan to osshaimasu ka?) – Koh-reh wah nahn toh oh-sshai-mahss kah?

“おっしゃいます (osshaimasu)” is the honorific form of “say,” used to respectfully refer to others’ speech.

This phrase is very polite and respectful, often used when talking about someone senior.

Perfect for formal interviews or meetings.

Make sure to use it only when referring to someone else’s words.

Example: Asking about a phrase from a respected teacher, “これは何とおっしゃいますか？”

This phrase elevates your politeness level significantly.

14. これはどのように言いますか？ (Kore wa dono you ni iimasu ka?) – Koh-reh wah doh-noh yoh-nee ee-mahss kah?

“どのように (dono you ni)” means “in what way” or “how exactly.”

This phrase asks for a detailed or proper way to say something, very polite and formal.

Great for when you want to learn nuances or specific phrasing.

Don’t use it casually as it sounds more academic.

Example: Asking a professor for the right expression, “これはどのように言いますか？”

Use this when precision matters.

15. これは何と表現しますか？ (Kore wa nan to hyougen shimasu ka?) – Koh-reh wah nahn toh hyoh-gen shee-mahss kah?

“表現します (hyougen shimasu)” means “to express.”

This phrase asks “How do you express this?” and is polite and formal.

Useful when you want to learn idiomatic or nuanced expressions.

Not used in casual conversation, but great in classes or presentations.

Example: Asking about a phrase during a writing lesson, “これは何と表現しますか？”

It helps deepen your understanding of expression.

16. これは何と読みますか？ (Kore wa nan to yomimasu ka?) – Koh-reh wah nahn toh yoh-mee-mahss kah?

“読みます (yomimasu)” means “to read.”

This phrase asks “How do you read this?” and is polite.

It’s especially useful for kanji or new words you see but don’t know how to pronounce.

Don’t confuse it with “言います,” which is about saying, not reading.

Example: Pointing at a kanji, you ask, “これは何と読みますか？”

This phrase is essential for learning Japanese writing and pronunciation.

Part 3: Very Casual / Native-like Expressions

17. これ、なんて言うんだ？ (Kore, nante iunda?) – Koh-reh, nahn-teh ee-oon dah?

This is an informal, masculine-sounding version of “How do you say this?”

“んだ (nda)” adds a casual explanatory tone, common in spoken Japanese among men.

Good for casual chats but avoid in formal settings.

Focus on the dropped “の” to sound natural.

Example: Asking a buddy about slang or new words, “これ、なんて言うんだ？”

Great for sounding like a native among close friends.

18. これ、どう言うん？ (Kore, dou iun?) – Koh-reh, doh ee-oon?

This is a shortened, casual Kansai dialect style of “どう言うの?”

Dropping the “の” and using “ん” makes it sound very relaxed and native.

Perfect for informal chats, especially if you want to sound regional.

Be careful using this outside Kansai or informal groups.

Example: Asking a friend what a word means, “これ、どう言うん？”

It adds local flavor to your Japanese.

19. これ、なんて言うんだっけ？ (Kore, nante iundakke?) – Koh-reh, nahn-teh ee-oon dah-kkeh?

This phrase shows you’re trying to remember a word, casual and very natural.

“んだっけ (ndakke)” adds a sense of “What was it again?”

It’s great for conversations where you forgot the word but want to find it.

Avoid using it in very formal situations.

Example: Asking a friend about a movie title, “これ、なんて言うんだっけ？”

It feels very human and relatable.

20. これ、何て言うのかな？ (Kore, nante iu no kana?) – Koh-reh, nahn-teh ee-oo noh kah-nah?

“かな (kana)” adds a soft, wondering feeling to the question.

This is casual but polite enough for most conversations and sounds thoughtful.

Great for asking when you’re curious but not demanding an answer.

Don’t overuse “かな” in formal speech.

Example: Wondering aloud with a friend, “これ、何て言うのかな？”

It’s a nice way to express curiosity.

21. これ、どう言うんだ？ (Kore, dou iunda?) – Koh-reh, doh ee-oon dah?

This is a casual, masculine phrase to ask “How do you say this?”

It’s direct and natural in everyday speech.

Use with friends or informal groups.

Be aware of tone to avoid sounding too blunt.

Example: Asking a friend about slang, “これ、どう言うんだ？”

It’s a confident way to ask casually.

22. これ、なんて言うんだよ？ (Kore, nante iundayo?) – Koh-reh, nahn-teh ee-oon dah-yoh?

Adding “よ (yo)” adds emphasis, making it sound more assertive or playful.

This phrase is casual and often used among close friends.

Good to show excitement or urgency.

Avoid in serious or formal contexts.

Example: Playfully asking a pal about a new phrase, “これ、なんて言うんだよ？”

It adds personality to your speech.

23. これ、どう言うのさ？ (Kore, dou iu no sa?) – Koh-reh, doh ee-oo noh sah?

“さ (sa)” adds a laid-back, slightly masculine tone to the question.

It’s very casual and often heard in spoken Japanese.

Use it with friends or in informal situations.

Be careful not to overuse it as it can sound rough.

Example: Asking a buddy about a word casually, “これ、どう言うのさ？”

Great for sounding natural and relaxed.

24. これ、なんて言うっけ？ (Kore, nante iukke?) – Koh-reh, nahn-teh ee-oo-kkeh?

“言うっけ (iukke)” is a contraction of “言うんだっけ,” used when trying to recall something.

This is very casual and common among native speakers.

It’s perfect when you’re unsure but want to confirm a word.

Not suitable for formal use but great for everyday chat.

Example: Asking a friend about a forgotten word, “これ、なんて言うっけ？”

It’s a natural phrase that shows casual thinking.

Concluding Thought

Exploring these 24 phrases gives you a well-rounded way to ask “How do you say this?” in Japanese, from casual to formal and native-like expressions.

Using the right phrase in the right context not only helps you communicate better but also shows your respect and understanding of Japanese culture.

Keep practicing these variations, and you’ll soon find yourself navigating conversations with confidence and ease. Ganbatte!