Japanese kanji 言: say

The idea

Kanji can have Japanese-origin readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on). Compare 言う (いう) and 言葉 (ことば). 言 has 7 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram for their order.

Examples

• 先生せんせいに「ありがとう」と言いいました。I said “thank you” to my teacher.
• 名前なまえをゆっくり言いってください。Please say your name slowly.
• その言葉ことばの意味いみを教おしえてください。Please tell me what that word means.
• 新あたらしい言葉ことばを覚おぼえます。I learn new words.
• 伝言でんごんを母ははに伝つたえます。I pass the message on to my mother.
• 父ちちから伝言でんごんを預あずかりました。I received a message to pass on from my father.

Watch out

言う (いう) means say; 言葉 (ことば) means word; language. Learn the reading with the whole word. 言葉 is read ことば as a whole; its reading cannot be guessed from 言う alone. Compare the indicated parts of 言 and 音: 口 and 日.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 言う in hiragana.

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   いう

   言う is read いう and means say. Remember the reading of the whole word.

2. Write the reading of 言葉 in hiragana.

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   ことば

   言葉 is read ことば and means word; language. Remember the reading of the whole word.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: 伝＿（でんごん）.

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   言

   言 completes 伝言, read でんごん; the completed word means message.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 言 from memory, and read 言う and 言葉 aloud. Check their readings and meanings.