“Oh, I see” is one of the most common responses in the English language. What does it mean exactly, and how to respond to it?
“Oh, I see,” often abbreviated in text messages to OIC. This is a phrase that people use to say that they understood the subject. The meaning of this statement varies depending on how it is said. It could come across as a sign of understanding or sound somewhat dismissive.
Read on to learn more about the phrase oh I see and how to respond to it.
Oh I See – What Does It Mean and How to Respond?
When the person you are having a serious conversation with answers with an oh, I see, it usually means that they understood what you‘re saying. But without necessarily agreeing with you. It may sound somewhat confusing.
This is the reason why some people take offense when they hear this response. However, it only essentially means that the person acknowledges and understands what you just said.
Still, you need to be mindful of your tone, even though this simple phrase is not meant to offend the other person. On the other hand, you can utilize this phrase when you are not interested in the conversation. It may also indicate that you are not closely paying attention to what the other was saying.
If the other person responds with an “oh I see” with a drawl, that shows disinterest with the conversation. This is why saying it like that would trigger some people.
On the other hand, if “oh I see” was a response when you answer their question, that means that they get your explanation. Typically, the phrase comes with a show of gratitude, like “Oh, I see. Thank you” or “Oh, I see, I appreciate that.”
The term does not aim to offend purposely. Some people find it genuinely confusing why others would feel offended when they just said they agreed with you. It is why you need to be somewhat careful when you say it and how you react to it.
How to Respond to “What’s Up?” (also Wassup or Sup)
Is “Oh I See” Offensive?
It might seem that the phrase “oh I see” does imply an offensive opinion. As if the other person does not believe your explanation. The receiver of this phrase might also feel like they are not worth a longer answer. However, that is not always the case.
Tired or Uninspired
When the other person says, “Oh, I see,” it could just mean that they are tired. Or maybe even uninspired, so they cannot think of a lengthier answer than that. You can usually tell if that is the case when there is a brief silence after responding that way. It usually means that the other person is seriously thinking about what you said.
Genuinely Does Not Know What to Say
Another case might be that the other person genuinely doesn’t know how to respond to what you just said. And all that they could come up with is a simple “I see.” This is usually true, as they probably did realize something about what you said, and they get your point. The only problem is that they could not articulate their thoughts fast enough to give you a proper response.
Talking to a Foreigner
There is also the case when you are speaking with people from another country. For instance, the East Asian people have their own version of “oh I see.” They use it in everyday conversation without intending to offend. Now, when they speak in English, they also say, “oh, I see.”
Different people may mean different things when they say it. So, you should not be so quick to judge their intentions. Even if you feel offended by the phrase, likely, the other person did not mean any offense by what they said.
When Does “Oh I See” Become Offensive? And How to Respond to It?
The phrase “oh I see” is just a bunch of words used in response to understanding a certain subject or explanation. It is often quite harmless and draws very little offense. However, just like with many other words in the English language, it will have a different meaning when used in certain contexts.
In addition to context, you should also be mindful of the tone of voice used. You can almost always tell when someone is sarcastic or even condescending just by the tone of their voice.
Here are some of the instances when Oh I see can seem offensive to some people:
1. When “Oh I See” Is Used Condescendingly
Anyone would get annoyed when they are talked down to. If you have a somewhat civil argument with someone and respond to you with an “oh I see” using a snarky tone of voice, that is not just rude. It is plain disrespectful of the person to assume that they have a higher position than you.
If you ever get to be at the receiving end of this remark, you can either come back with an equally snarky remark. You may also choose to be the bigger person and ignore the sarcasm and step away from a potentially toxic argument. Though there are dozens of potentially scathing replies that you can use, going down to their level should still be an option.
2. When “Oh I See” Is Used by Someone Who Is at a Loss for Words
You can easily tell when the “oh I see” is just an automatic response because the person really does not have a reply ready, and it is not their fault. When a person says, “oh, I see,” and they look like they are straining to find a good response, then you should not take offense to it.
The other person must really be trying hard to keep up with your explanations, but they cannot get into the topic at hand. When this happens, the polite thing to do is change topics and casually ask the other what they would like to talk about.
3. When “Oh I See” Is Used When a Person Is Tired of the Conversation
As much as you would not like to admit it, you might not be as great at conversations as you think you are. You may be droning on and on about a mundane subject that only you find interesting, and the person you are talking to is just being polite and doing their best not to walk away. If that is the case, the “oh I see” will come with a forced smile and maybe a couple of awkward side glances.
If you find yourself in this awkward situation, then you should excuse yourself from the conversation, or at the very least, steer the conversation by asking questions about the other person instead of continuing to drone all about yourself.
4. When “Oh I See” Is Used Without Saying Thank You Right After
Doing so is usually unintentionally offensive, especially if you talk with a person whose first language is not English. If you answered a question the other person asked, and they responded with an “oh, I see,” you should not take offense to it immediately.
Even if the other did not say thank you, responding with an “oh I see” is already stating that you helped them and is an indirect way of showing gratitude.
The appropriate response when it happens to you is just to let it slide. If you expect other people to show gratitude every time you do something good, you need to have your morals checked, as that should not be the way you view things.
Treating Others the Way You Want to Be Treated
Other Ways of Saying “Oh I see”
To eliminate the risk of using oh I see offensively, you should strike it out of your vocabulary. You can, however, replace it with other better terms. Here are some of the alternatives to oh I see that you can use:
If You Understood What the Other Person Said
There are times when you need a quick and easy way to say you understood what the other person said. That is even without expressing any of your own opinions. In that case, here are some of the alternatives you can use:
“Alright/OK/Sure”
When someone’s explaining something or giving you instructions, these words will politely let them know that you are listening. Any of these words also indicate that you understood everything the other person just said. However, you need to be mindful of the tone of your voice since the other person might easily confuse your words with sarcasm.
“Okay, Got It”
This is one way of saying that you grasped the meaning of what the other person is saying to you. You can use it if the instructions are clear and you know what to do.
“That’s Clear, Thank You or Thanks, I Get It Now”
You can use these phrases when you had a bit of trouble understanding what the other person said. But eventually grasped its meaning.
If You Understand the Other Person’s Opinion
If you have a somewhat heated discussion with another person and start to side with their opinion, then here are some phrases you can use. What is great about these phrases is that you can agree with the other’s opinion without letting go of your position entirely:
- “I see where you’re coming from/Fair enough/That does make sense/I get your point” – These phrases politely say that you now understand the other person’s opinion. And that you somewhat agree. However, it still shows that you stand by your original position.
- “Absolutely/Yes, of course” – You can use these phrases to show that you do not only understand the other person’s opinion. And that you also wholly agree with them.
- “I understand why you would think that way, but…” – This phrase shows the other person that you understand their opinion, but you still don’t agree with them. You need to be careful with your tone when saying this, as those who hear it may take this as condescending.
- “I hear what you’re saying, but…” – This phrase is like the one before, but you are emphasizing that you are listening by affixing “I hear.” You are also trying to understand their position on the topic, though you are not fully convinced yet.
If You Understand the Other Person’s Feelings
You can also use the following alternatives to “Oh I see” when you understand why the other feels that way without the need to say that you are wrong:
- “That is a completely fair assessment/I don’t blame you for feeling that way” – These phrases are great every time you want to reassure someone that you completely understand why they are feeling the way they do. This is especially helpful when something made them upset or angry. You are telling them that you are on their side.
- “I get what you mean” – This phrase also shows that you agree with the other person. But you are adding another layer by saying that you feel the same way or had a similar experience. This suggests that you truly empathize with them.
- “Of course, I would feel the same if I were in your place” – This is like the one above. However, you can also say that you still empathize with the other person even though you have not been through the same thing. You are saying that you are not blaming them for reacting the way they did. It would be like relaying your thought that you would have done the same if the shoe was on the other foot.
Conclusion – Oh I See
“Oh, I see” is a phrase often used to show that they understood what the other person said. But they did not necessarily agree with it. Some people may feel like the phrase itself is offensive regardless of the context. However, although it can be offensive if used condescendingly, it is not always the case.
There is nothing inherently wrong about saying “oh, I see,” especially when no ill will intended. Therefore, it is best to learn how you should react when someone says it to you. Aside from that, you also need to learn how to say it properly. Or at least know alternative phrases to use so that you do not offend anyone.
