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How to say 'Spoken language' in Japanese | 話し言葉

Wondering how to say 'Spoken language' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Spoken language is 'Hanashikotoba', written as 話し言葉 in Japanese.'Spoken language' in hiragana is はなしことば.

    word

    話し言葉

    Meaning

    Spoken language

    Reading

    はなしことば

    hanashikotoba

    Kanji

    話Talk 言Say 葉Leaf

    Explanation

    The Japanese noun '話し言葉 (はなしことば)' refers to 'spoken language' or 'colloquial speech'. It is used to describe the language that is spoken in everyday conversations, as opposed to written language or formal speech. This term is often used in contrast to '書き言葉 (かきことば)', which means 'written language'. For example: Spoken language is different from written language「話し言葉は書き言葉と違う」(はなしことばはかきことばとちがう). In spoken language, people often use contractions「話し言葉では、よく短縮形が使われる」(はなしことばでは、よくたんしゅくけいがつかわれる).

    Part Of Speech

    noun

    Kanji JLPT

    N3

    Kanji Grade

    3

    Frequency

    7187

    Composition

    kanji-hiragana

    Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 話し言葉

This word contains 3 kanji characters:

  • kanji

    話

    Meaning

    Talk

  • kanji

    言

    Meaning

    Say

  • kanji

    葉

    Meaning

    Leaf

Hiragana in the Word 話し言葉

This word contains 1 Hiragana character :

  • hiragana

    し

    Reading

    Shi

Words Related to 話し言葉 Through the Kanji 話

These 17 Words contain the Kanji 話 as well.

  • word

    話

    Meaning

    Story

  • word

    話す

    Meaning

    Talk, Speak

  • word

    会話

    Meaning

    Conversation

  • word

    電話

    Meaning

    Call

  • word

    話題

    Meaning

    Topic

  • word

    電話帳

    Meaning

    Phone book

  • word

    世話

    Meaning

    Care

  • word

    受話器

    Meaning

    Receiver

  • word

    話し合う

    Meaning

    Discuss

  • word

    話し掛ける

    Meaning

    Address

  • word

    神話

    Meaning

    Myth

  • word

    話し合い

    Meaning

    Discussion

  • word

    長話

    Meaning

    Long talk

  • word

    作り話

    Meaning

    Fabrication

  • word

    対話

    Meaning

    Dialogue

  • word

    受話

    Meaning

    Receiver

  • word

    話し声

    Meaning

    Voice

Words Related to 話し言葉 Through the Kanji 言

These 26 Words contain the Kanji 言 as well.

  • word

    言う

    Meaning

    Say

  • word

    言葉

    Meaning

    Word

  • word

    言い方

    Meaning

    Way of speaking

  • word

    言語

    Meaning

    Language

  • word

    発言

    Meaning

    Statement

  • word

    一言

    Meaning

    Word

  • word

    言わば

    Meaning

    So to speak

  • word

    言い出す

    Meaning

    Start saying

  • word

    宣言

    Meaning

    Declaration

  • word

    言い返す

    Meaning

    Retort

  • word

    言い表わす

    Meaning

    Express

  • word

    言論

    Meaning

    Discussion, Speech

  • word

    言い訳

    Meaning

    Excuse

  • word

    言付ける

    Meaning

    Entrust

  • word

    証言

    Meaning

    Testimony

  • word

    遺言

    Meaning

    Will

  • word

    言葉遣い

    Meaning

    Wording

  • word

    書き言葉

    Meaning

    Written language

  • word

    方言

    Meaning

    Dialect

  • word

    言い替える

    Meaning

    Rephrase

  • word

    無言

    Meaning

    Silence

  • word

    予言

    Meaning

    Prophecy

  • word

    言

    Meaning

    Word

  • word

    言及

    Meaning

    Mention

  • word

    独り言

    Meaning

    Soliloquy

  • word

    伝言

    Meaning

    Message

Words Related to 話し言葉 Through the Kanji 葉

These 10 Words contain the Kanji 葉 as well.

  • word

    言葉

    Meaning

    Word

  • word

    葉

    Meaning

    Leaf

  • word

    絵葉書

    Meaning

    Postcard

  • word

    言葉遣い

    Meaning

    Wording

  • word

    落ち葉

    Meaning

    Fallen leaves

  • word

    木の葉

    Meaning

    Leaf

  • word

    書き言葉

    Meaning

    Written language

  • word

    紅葉

    Meaning

    Autumn leaves

  • word

    葉書

    Meaning

    Postcard

  • word

    葉っぱ

    Meaning

    Leaf

Learn the Word 話し言葉

Let's make sure you fully understand this word.

What does 'Hanashikotoba' (話し言葉) mean?

'Hanashikotoba' means 'Spoken language' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.