話す often focuses on speaking or conversation; 言う often focuses on what is said.

The idea

友達と話します describes talking with a friend; 日本語で話します names the language used. 言う can introduce exact words with と: 「ありがとう」と言いました. Both can take に for the person addressed and can describe communicating information.

Patterns to compare
FormExample
話はなします友達ともだちと話はなします
言いいます「ありがとう」と言いいます
言いって言いってください

Examples

  • 友達ともだちと日本語にほんごで話はなします。I speak Japanese with a friend.
  • 先生せんせいに名前なまえを言いいます。I tell the teacher my name.
  • 彼かれは「ありがとう」と言いいました。He said “thank you”.
  • 家族かぞくと旅行りょこうについて話はなしました。I talked with my family about a trip.
  • 父ちちはゆっくり話はなします。My father speaks slowly.
  • もう一度いちど言いってください。Please say it once more.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

This is a difference in focus, not a strict division: 話す can also convey specific content. The dictionary form 言う is written いう, though its everyday pronunciation is commonly ゆう.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the verb for talking with a friend. 友達ともだちと日本語にほんごで＿＿。（話はなします／言いいます）

    Show answer or example answer

    話します

    友達と話します describes a conversation with a friend.

  2. Choose the verb for saying the quoted words. 「ありがとう」と＿＿。（言いいました／話はなしました）

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    言いました

    The exact words before と are normally followed by 言いました.

  3. Choose the て-form for asking someone to repeat. もう一度いちど＿＿ください。（言いって／言いいて）

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    言って

    言って is the て-form of 言う and fits the request to say it again.

Use it today

Talk with someone about a trip, say your name and report what someone said.