What does it actually mean when a japanese person say "japanese?" when speaking in english?

Question:

does this refer more to the japanese if the person speak japanese or if the person has a japanese look?

please explain?

i was saying a word in japanese to a japanese person as i approach and when i was about to left she grabbed me saying "japanese?"

what does that refer more of

Answer:

If she thought you were Japanese, she wouldn't talk to you in English !