Japanese word

伝言

Pronunciation

Romajidengon

Meaning

  • nounmessage

Example

彼に伝言を残しました。kare ni den gon o noko shi ma shi ta

I left a message for him.

Illustration for 伝言 (message)

More examples

留守番電話に伝言をお願いします。ru su ban den wa ni den gon o o nega i shi ma su

Please leave a message on the answering machine.

Core concept

Refers to words or information passed from one person to another, often for someone who is absent.

Common phrases

  • 伝言を残すden gon o noko su

    leave a message

  • 伝言を頼むden gon o tano mu

    ask someone to deliver a message

Similar words

言付けkotozuke: A message or request entrusted to another person for delivery.
メッセージmessēji: Words or information communicated to another person by speaking, writing, or other means.
言伝kotozute: A message conveyed from one person to another, with a formal or literary tone.

Definition in Japanese

他人に伝えるよう頼まれた用件や知らせ。ta nin ni tsuta e ru yō tano ma re ta yō ken ya shi ra se

Word origin

The compound 伝言 (dengon) combines 伝 (den, "transmit") and 言 (gon, "words"), so it denotes words passed on to someone.

Usage tips

  • The familiar Japanese term 伝言ゲーム (dengon gēmu) refers to the telephone game, linking the everyday word to a game in which a message changes as it is repeated.

Other meanings

  • wordnoun

Related words

  • 伝言するdengonsururelay a messageverb

Word lists with this word