Since when who told
Conversation phrases, Stage 2chunk 30 of 71Asking and following up
Digs into the details behind a piece of news or gossip.
- itsu kara?since when?
- nani ga?what is?; what about it?
- dare kara kiita no?who told you that?
- nande shitteru no?how do you know that?
Mix-ups nande shitteru no can sound accusing without a smile.
itsu kara?
polite itsu kara desu ka?
since when?
Asking when something started, like a symptom, a relationship or a new habit.
Doctors ask itsu kara desu ka? about symptoms, so expect to hear it there.
atama itai no? itsu kara?
Your head hurts? Since when?
頭痛いの？いつから？
itami wa itsu kara desu ka?
When did the pain start?
痛みはいつからですか？
Written いつから？ · いつからですか？Who you say it and hear itHeard 108× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
nani ga?
polite nani ga desu ka?
what is?; what about it?
Asking what someone means when they react without saying what, like 'that's weird!'.
Said flat, it can sound defensive: 'what's your problem?'
e, nani ga? zenzen wakannai.
Wait, what is? I don't get it at all.
え、何が？全然わかんない。
sumimasen, nani ga desu ka?
Sorry, what is?
すみません、何がですか？
Written 何が？ · なにが？ · 何がですか？Who you say it and hear itHeard 1092× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
dare kara kiita no?
polite dare kara kiita n desu ka?
who told you that?
Asking where news or gossip came from, often with some surprise.
Kiku means both 'hear' and 'ask'; dare ni kiita no? is 'who did you ask?'
sono hanashi, dare kara kiita no?
Who told you that?
その話、誰から聞いたの？
sono hanashi, dare kara kiita n desu ka?
Who did you hear that from?
その話、誰から聞いたんですか？
Written 誰から聞いたの？ · だれからきいたの？ · 誰から聞いたんですか？Who you say it and hear itHeard 35× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
nande shitteru no?
polite doushite shitte iru n desu ka?
how do you know that?
Said in surprise when someone knows something you didn't tell them.
'Know' is shitteru; shiru alone means 'find out'.
e, nande shitteru no? dare ni mo itte nai noni.
Wait, how do you know? I didn't tell anyone.
え、なんで知ってるの？誰にも言ってないのに。
e, doushite shitte iru n desu ka?
Oh, how do you know that?
え、どうして知っているんですか？
Written なんで知ってるの？ · なんでしってるの？ · どうして知っているんですか？Who you say it and hear itHeard 32× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles