Japanese word

言葉遣い

Pronunciation

Romajikotobazukai

Meaning

  • nounwording

Example

その言葉遣いは少しきついです。so no koto ba zuka i wa suko shi ki tsu i de su

That wording is a little harsh.

Illustration for 言葉遣い (wording)

More examples

相手を不快にさせない言葉遣いを意識しています。ai te o fu kai ni sa se na i koto ba zuka i o i shiki shi te i ma su

I make an effort to use wording that does not make the other person uncomfortable.

Core concept

Centers on how a person selects and uses words, including the tone and social meaning conveyed by those choices.

Common phrases

  • 言葉遣いに気をつけるkoto ba zuka i ni ki o tsu ke ru

    watch one's wording

  • 丁寧な言葉遣いtei nei na koto ba zuka i

    polite wording

  • 言葉遣いを改めるkoto ba zuka i o arata me ru

    change one's wording

  • 言葉遣いを選ぶkoto ba zuka i o era bu

    choose one's wording

Similar words

言い方iikata: The way a thought or message is put into words.
言い回しiimawashi: A particular phrasing used to express a thought or message.
口調kuchō: The tone and manner conveyed by a person's spoken words.
話し方hanashikata: The overall manner in which a person speaks, including word choice and delivery.

Definition in Japanese

話や文章で用いる言葉の選び方や使い方。hanashi ya bun shō de mochi i ru koto ba no era bi kata ya tsuka i kata

Word origin

The native compound 言葉遣い (kotobazukai) joins 言葉 (kotoba, "words or language") and 遣い (tsukai, "use or handling"), with rendaku producing the z sound.

Usage tips

  • A comment on 言葉遣い (kotobazukai) can praise politeness or point out harshness, so it often evaluates tone rather than the correctness of the language itself.

Other meanings

  • languagenoun
  • way of speakingnoun

Word lists with this word