質問: When someone says something to me and I don't really understand the meaning, how can I respond? What is the difference between: * 何て言う意味ですか。 * 何て言うことですか。 * どう言う意味ですか。 I might be wrong, I might mix everything from what I've heard, read, seen. Environment: Polite, formal, informal, anything is fine. Extra question, how to say it in keigo?
回答: 何て言う意味ですか? means "What is the meaning?". For example, この漢字は、何ていう意味ですか?(What is the meaning of this kanji?). I say 何ていうことだ rather than 何て言うことですか and it means "Oh my God". どう言う意味ですか? has two meanings. One is the same as "何て言う意味ですか?" and the other is "What do you mean". The latter one often includes an offensive nuance.