GRAMMAR
〜ってば
i said ~!
Explanation
NOTE
〜ってば means I said...! — it repeats something with impatience because the listener did not respond.
違うってば、そうじゃないよ。
I said you're wrong — that's not it.
NOTE
It is casual and shows irritation. The speaker wants the listener to finally hear or accept what was said.
分かったってば、もう言わないで。
I said I got it — stop telling me already.
ってば often follows a repeated statement to push back against being nagged.
NOTE
Attach ってば to the plain form of a verb you are repeating impatiently.
STRUCTURE
V普
ってば行くってば、ちゃんと行くよ。
Iku tteba, chanto iku yo.
I said I'll go — I really will.
もう食べたってば、お腹いっぱいだよ。
Mou tabeta tteba, onaka ippai da yo.
I said I already ate — I'm full.
知らないってば、何度も聞かないで。
Shiranai tteba, nando mo kikanaide.
I said I don't know — stop asking over and over.
やってないってば。どうして信じてくれないの？
Yattenai tteba. Doushite shinjite kurenai no?
I said I didn't do it. Why won't you believe me?
行くってば！もう遅いよ。
Iku tteba! Mou osoi yo.
I said I'm going! It's already late.
知らなかったってば！ごめんね。
Shiranakatta tteba! Gomen ne.
I said I didn't know! I'm sorry.
Practice exercises
1
大丈夫だってば、心配しないで。
I said it's fine — don't worry.
Answer
ってば
2
待ってってば、まだ準備ができてない。
I said wait — I'm not ready yet.
Answer
ってば
3
本当のことを言っているってば、信じてよ。
I said I'm telling the truth — believe me.
Answer
ってば
4
人生には理不尽なものがある。止めてってば。
Life has its absurdities. I said stop!
Answer
ってば
5
成功を願ってやまないが、無理だってば。
I sincerely hope for success, but I said it's impossible!
Answer
ってば
6
悲しみを禁じ得ない。嘘じゃないってば。
I can't help feeling sad. I said it's not a lie!
Answer
ってば
7
何度も言ったけど、行かないってば。
I've said it many times, but I said I'm not going!
Answer
ってば
8
聞いてよ、もう諦めたってば。
Listen, I said I've already given up!
Answer
ってば