Translation guide
How to express 'said' in Japanese, covering direct speech, reported speech, and common verbs for saying.
He said he would come.
She said it was okay.
To quote someone's exact words, often in storytelling or conversation.
The most common way to quote direct speech. と is the quotative particle, and 言った is the past tense of 言う (to say).
He said, 'I'll go.'
She said, 'It's okay.'
Casual spoken form. って is a colloquial quotative particle, often used in conversation.
He said he's coming.
Polite form of と言った. Use in formal situations or when speaking politely.
To report what someone said without quoting exactly, often using indirect speech.
Used to report what someone said earlier, implying you are conveying their message. The 〜ている form adds a nuance of 'was saying' or 'said (and it's relevant now)'.
To attribute speech in novels, articles, or formal writing.
Formal/literary verb meaning 'stated' or 'remarked'. Common in news and essays.
To convey not just speech but the manner of speaking.
Shouted, yelled. Use when 'said' implies a loud voice.
To refer back to someone or something previously mentioned, often in legal or formal contexts.
In Japanese, it's often more natural to omit the subject and the verb 'said' if it's clear from context. Instead of 'He said...', you might just state the quoted speech with a quotative particle and let the context imply who spoke.
(He) said 'I'll go.'
と言った is a simple statement of fact: 'He said X.' と言っていた implies you are relaying a message and often carries the nuance that the statement is still relevant or that you heard it from the person. Use と言っていた when passing on what someone said.
The teacher said, 'Please submit your homework.'
He said he would come tomorrow.
Mom said she wants you to call her.
Can also be used for indirect speech, but と言っていた is often more natural when relaying a message.
He said he was busy.
Casual quotative particle, often used without a verb in informal speech to mean 'said that'.
He said he's not coming.
The prime minister said, 'Reform is necessary.'
Literary, often used for telling a story or recounting. Slightly more narrative than 述べた.
He spoke of his own experience.
He shouted, 'Help!'
Whispered. Use for soft, secretive speech.
She whispered, 'I love you.'
Muttered, murmured. Often used for speaking to oneself or in a low voice.
He muttered, 'It's no use.'
Formal term meaning 'the said' or 'the relevant'. Used in legal, business, or official documents.
The said person is currently missing.
Prefix meaning 'the same' or 'the said'. Used in compounds like 同人 (the said person) or 同社 (the said company).
The said company announced a new product.
彼は来ると言った。
He said he would come. (just stating the fact)
He said he would come. (and I'm telling you this now, maybe you need to know)