Japanese word

話す

Pronunciation

Romajihanasu

Meaning

  • verbtalk

Example

友達と話します。tomo dachi to hana shi ma su

I talk with my friend.

Illustration for 話す (talk)

More examples

友だちと話します。tomo da chi to hana shi ma su

I talk with my friend.

困ったことを先生に話しました。koma tta ko to o sen sei ni hana shi ma shi ta

I told my teacher about my problem.

Core concept

Centers on using spoken words to exchange or convey information with another person.

Common phrases

  • 日本語を話すnihon go o hana su

    speak Japanese

  • 英語で話すei go de hana su

    speak in English

  • 友達と話すtomo dachi to hana su

    talk with a friend

Similar words

言うiu: To state a thought, fact, or message in words.
しゃべるshaberu: To talk casually, often without planning what to say.

Definition in Japanese

言葉を口にして、相手に伝えたり会話したりする。koto ba o kuchi ni shi te ai te ni tsuta e ta ri kai wa shi ta ri su ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 話す (hanasu, "to talk") has no securely established breakdown into older borrowed elements, so its deeper origin remains uncertain.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 話す (hanasu) commonly takes と (to) for the person one talks with, as in 友達と話す (tomodachi to hanasu).

Other meanings

  • tellverb

Related words

Word lists with this word