Japanese word

言

Pronunciation

Romajigen

Meaning

  • nounword

Example

彼の言を信じます。kare no gen o shin ji ma su

I believe his words.

Illustration for 言 (word)

More examples

彼女の言には、責任を引き受ける決意が感じられます。kano jo no gen ni wa seki nin o hi ki u ke ru ketsu i ga kan ji ra re ma su

Her words show her determination to take responsibility.

Core concept

Presents what someone says as a message or claim that carries meaning beyond the mere act of speaking.

Common phrases

  • 言を失うgen o ushina u

    be at a loss for words

  • 言を尽くすgen o tsu ku su

    explain fully

  • 言を濁すgen o nigo su

    give an evasive answer

Similar words

言葉kotoba: Words used to express a thought, message, or meaning.
発言hatsugen: A remark or statement made by a person.
言明genmei: A clear statement that openly expresses a fact or position.

Definition in Japanese

人が口に出して述べたことや、その内容。hito ga kuchi ni da shi te no be ta ko to ya so no nai yō

Word origin

言 (gen, "speech" or "words") is a Sino-Japanese noun formed from one character, and its meaning comes directly from the character's sense of speech and its content.

Usage tips

  • The character 言 (gen, "words") appears in formal compounds such as 言明 (genmei), which means a clear declaration rather than casual talk.

Other meanings

  • remarknoun
  • statementnoun

Word lists with this word