Japanese word

独り言

Pronunciation

Romajihitorigoto

Meaning

  • nountalking to oneself

Example

私はよく独り言を言います。watashi wa yo ku hito ri goto o i i ma su

I often talk to myself.

Illustration for 独り言 (talking to oneself)

More examples

静かな部屋で独り言を言うと、声がよく響きます。shizu ka na heya de hito ri goto o yū to koe ga yo ku hibi ki ma su

When I talk to myself in a quiet room, my voice echoes clearly.

Core concept

Centers on expressing thoughts or reactions aloud when no conversation partner is being addressed.

Common phrases

  • 独り言を言うhito ri goto o yū

    talk to oneself

  • 独り言をつぶやくhito ri goto o tsu bu ya ku

    mutter to oneself

  • 独り言が多いhito ri goto ga ō i

    talk to oneself a lot

Similar words

独語dokugo: A formal term for expressing one's thoughts aloud without addressing another person.

Definition in Japanese

聞き手を定めず、自分の考えや感情などを口に出して言うこと。ki ki te o sada me zu ji bun no kanga e ya kan jō na do o kuchi ni da shi te i u ko to

Word origin

独り言 (hitorigoto) is a native Japanese compound of 独り (hitori, "alone") and 言 (goto, "speech"), with 言 changing from koto to goto in the compound.

Usage tips

  • English speakers use talk to oneself for both habitual self-directed speech and a single spoken remark made without a conversational partner.

Word lists with this word