New here? This is lesson 212 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Pass on a message in Japanese
At the Ueno office, Mori-san asks Leo to tell the team that their meeting has moved. The important part is passing on her words, not adding a detail.
He checks what he heard, repeats the message carefully, and makes sure the team gets no extra information.
Learn how to ask what someone said, report their words, and pass on a short message politely.
By the end of this lesson
Check what someone said and pass on their message accurately.
- 今、何と言いましたか。What did they just say?
- ___と言っていました。They said ___.
- 伝言を頼んでもいいですか。Could I leave a message with you?
- 待っていると、伝えてもらえますか。Could you tell them I'm waiting?
- それ以上は、言っていませんでした。They didn't say anything more.
- そのとおりに伝えます。I'll pass that on exactly.
Scene — a message at work
The Ueno office is quiet between meetings. Mori-san stands beside a shared calendar while Leo closes a translation file on his laptop.
She needs the team to know that the meeting time has changed. A teammate nearby is checking the schedule and waiting for the details.
Leo listens closely; this time, he wants to pass on only what Mori actually said.
Learn — check and pass it on
These six expressions help you check a spoken detail, report what someone said, and pass on a short request.
A direct quotation preserves exact wording; a report can also give the content without quoting every word.
今、何と言いましたか。
What did they just say?
When to use it: Ask this when you need someone to repeat what they just said.
と marks the quoted content before 言いました.
___と言っていました。
They said ___.
When to use it: Use this to report what someone said, either as a quote or by its content.
This pattern reports what someone said; put a direct quotation before と when exact wording matters.
伝言を頼んでもいいですか。
Could I leave a message with you?
When to use it: Ask this when you want someone to pass on a message.
もいいですか makes a polite request for permission.
Say it: Give the ん in 伝言 its own beat.
待っていると、伝えてもらえますか。
Could you tell them I'm waiting?
When to use it: Use this to ask someone to tell another person that you are waiting.
待っている describes the wait; 伝えてもらえますか asks someone to pass it on.
それ以上は、言っていませんでした。
They didn't say anything more.
When to use it: Use this to clarify that the speaker gave no further information.
言っていませんでした reports that no additional words were spoken.
そのとおりに伝えます。
I'll pass that on exactly.
When to use it: Use this to promise you will relay a message without changing it.
そのとおりに means exactly that; 伝えます promises to relay the message.
Story — the meeting time
Mori needs the team to hear one changed meeting time. Leo checks the wording, carries her request across the office, and avoids making the message bigger.
Highlighted phrases are today's new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- In the Ueno office, Mori checks the calendar while Leo finishes a file.
Mori同僚にはもう話しました。I've already told my colleague.- Mori会議の時間が変わりました。チームに伝えてもらえますか。The meeting time has changed. Could you pass it on to the team?
Leo今、何と言いましたか。What did they just say?- Mori会議は午後三時からです。チームの返事を待っています。The meeting starts at three in the afternoon. I'm waiting for the team's reply.
- Mori待っていると、伝えてもらえますか。Could you tell them I'm waiting?
- Leoそのとおりに伝えます。I'll pass that on exactly.
- Leo turns to a teammate at the next desk, ready to relay Mori's words.
- Leo伝言を頼んでもいいですか。Could I leave a message with you?
- Office teammateはい、どうぞ。Yes, go ahead.
- Leo「会議は午後三時からです」と言っていました。They said, “The meeting starts at three in the afternoon.”
- Leo「チームの返事を待っています」と言っていました。They said, “I'm waiting for the team's reply.”
- Office teammateほかに何か聞きましたか。Did you hear anything else?
- Leoそれ以上は、言っていませんでした。They didn't say anything more.
Practice — keep the details exact
Listen for the question, then choose or repair the response that fits. You will also fill a gap and answer a coworker.
The goal is accuracy, not extra detail.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What do you say?
What do you say?
Mori says the meeting begins at three. Quote her exact words to a teammate.
What do you say?
What do you say?
A coworker is available to take a message for someone who is away. Ask if you may leave a short message.
True or false?
True or false?
This asks someone to tell a third party that you are waiting.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
They didn't say anything more.
それ以上は、____でした。
Swap the word
Swap the word
Ask what someone just said.
今、何____言いましたか。
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
What do you say?
What do you say?
Mori says the meeting starts at three and asks you to relay her exact words.
Pick the reply
Mori says:
Pick the reply
この伝言をチームに伝えてもらえますか。
Could you pass this message on to the team?
And you reply with:
Build the line
Build the line
I'll pass that on exactly.
。
Tap the words in order.
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Say it — relay Mori's message
Take Leo's place as he checks the time and reports it to a teammate. Say each cue clearly, keeping the information faithful to Mori's words.
He promises first, then passes the message on and confirms there were no extra details.
- Mori会議の時間が変わりました。チームに伝えてもらえますか。The meeting time has changed. Could you pass it on to the team?
- Leo (you)Ask what she just said.
Ask what she just said.
今、何と言いましたか。
What did they just say?
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 今、何と言いましたか。 | What did they just say? | |
| ___と言っていました。 | They said ___. | |
| 伝言を頼んでもいいですか。 | Could I leave a message with you? | |
| 待っていると、伝えてもらえますか。 | Could you tell them I'm waiting? | |
| それ以上は、言っていませんでした。 | They didn't say anything more. | |
| そのとおりに伝えます。 | I'll pass that on exactly. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Save these careful message phrases for work and errands. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them on the train.
A short Yak Cards review helps you pass on a message without adding details.
Open Yak Cards