Japanese phrase
どういう意味で言いましたか？ dō i u i mi de i i ma shi ta ka
Meaning
What did you mean by that?
When to use it
Asks for the meaning of a previous remark. It is a polite way to check an unclear comment without sounding openly confrontational.
Example dialogue
明日は来なくていいです。 asu wa ko na ku te i i de su
You do not need to come tomorrow.
どういう意味で言いましたか？ dō i u i mi de i i ma shi ta ka
What did you mean by that?