言 – Kanji Meaning, Reading, and Common Words

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What does 言 mean in Japanese?

言 means to say or word in Japanese. It is the kanji in 言う (iu, to say) and 言葉 (kotoba, word or language), two of the most fundamental words for talking about talking.

言 has several readings. Read it as いう (iu) in the verb 言う, meaning ‘to say,’ as ゲン (gen) in 言語 (gengo, language), and as ゴン (gon) in 伝言 (dengon, message). On the left side of a kanji, 言 also works as a radical that signals speech, as in 話 (talk) and 読 (read).

Reading

On’yomi: ゲン (gen), ゴン (gon)

Kun’yomi: い-う (i-u), こと (koto)

Basic Information

Kanji 言
Meaning say, word
Stroke Count 7
JLPT Level N4

How to Understand This Kanji

言 is the plainest verb of speech: 言う reports what someone says, without the back-and-forth feeling of 話す (to talk). 言葉 covers single words, phrases, and language itself. In compounds, ゲン appears in formal words such as 言語 (language) and 方言 (dialect), while ゴン appears in 伝言 (message). As the speech radical ごんべん, 言 helps explain kanji like 話, 読, and 計.

Common Words

  • 言う（いう / iu） — to say
  • 言葉（ことば / kotoba） — word, language
  • 言語（げんご / gengo） — language (formal)
  • 方言（ほうげん / hougen） — dialect
  • 一言（ひとこと / hitokoto） — a single word, brief comment
  • 伝言（でんごん / dengon） — message (passed on)

Example Sentences

  • 先生は明日テストがあると言いました。

    せんせいはあしたてすとがあるといいました。 / Sensei wa ashita tesuto ga aru to iimashita.

    The teacher said there is a test tomorrow.

  • この言葉の意味を教えてください。

    このことばのいみをおしえてください。 / Kono kotoba no imi o oshiete kudasai.

    Please tell me the meaning of this word.

  • 日本語でこれは何と言いますか。

    にほんごでこれはなんといいますか。 / Nihongo de kore wa nan to iimasu ka.

    What do you call this in Japanese?

Related Kanji

  • 話

    — 話 means to talk and contains 言 as its radical; 言う reports what is said, while 話す describes the act of talking with someone.

  • 読

    — 読 means to read and also carries the 言 radical; spotting ごんべん on the left of a kanji is a reliable hint that it relates to language.

  • 口

    — 口 means mouth, where words come from; 言 is traditionally explained as lines coming out of a mouth, a handy image for remembering it.

When Learners Usually See This Kanji

The pattern 〜と言います (it is called…) and the question 日本語で何と言いますか (how do you say it in Japanese?) are essential from your first lesson. 言葉 (kotoba) is the natural word for vocabulary and language in conversation, while 言語 (gengo) is the formal or academic term. 一言 (hitokoto, a single word) appears in set phrases such as 一言で言うと (in a word).

Summary

言 means to say or word, powering 言う and 言葉 along with the speech radical found in many other kanji about language.