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How to say 'Written language' in Japanese | 書き言葉

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

The Japanese word for Written language is 'Kakikotoba', written as 書き言葉 in Japanese.'Written language' in hiragana is かきことば.

    word

    書き言葉

    Meaning

    Written language

    Reading

    かきことば

    kakikotoba

    Kanji

    書Write 言Say 葉Leaf

    Explanation

    The Japanese noun '書き言葉 (かきことば)' refers to 'written language'. It is used to describe the form of language that is used in writing, as opposed to spoken language (話し言葉, はなしことば). Written language often follows more formal grammar rules and may include vocabulary and expressions that are not commonly used in everyday speech. For example: This book uses formal written language「この本は書き言葉を使っている」(このほんはかきことばをつかっている). Written language is important for academic papers「書き言葉は学術論文に重要だ」(かきことばはがくじゅつろんぶんにじゅうようだ).

    Part Of Speech

    noun

    Kanji JLPT

    N3

    Kanji Grade

    3

    Frequency

    4319

    Composition

    kanji-hiragana

    Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 書き言葉

This word contains 3 kanji characters:

  • kanji

    書

    Meaning

    Write

  • kanji

    言

    Meaning

    Say

  • kanji

    葉

    Meaning

    Leaf

Hiragana in the Word 書き言葉

This word contains 1 Hiragana character :

  • hiragana

    き

    Reading

    Ki

Words Related to 書き言葉 Through the Kanji 書

These 38 Words contain the Kanji 書 as well.

  • word

    書く

    Meaning

    Write

  • word

    書き直す

    Meaning

    Rewrite

  • word

    図書館

    Meaning

    Library

  • word

    書

    Meaning

    Writing

  • word

    書き方

    Meaning

    Way of writing

  • word

    書き取る

    Meaning

    Transcribe

  • word

    図書室

    Meaning

    Library

  • word

    教科書

    Meaning

    Textbook

  • word

    横書き

    Meaning

    Horizontal writing

  • word

    文書

    Meaning

    Document

  • word

    書留

    Meaning

    Registered mail

  • word

    図書

    Meaning

    Books

  • word

    絵葉書

    Meaning

    Postcard

  • word

    本書

    Meaning

    This book

  • word

    下書き

    Meaning

    Draft

  • word

    後書き

    Meaning

    Postscript

  • word

    書道

    Meaning

    Calligraphy

  • word

    書類

    Meaning

    Documents

  • word

    書き取り

    Meaning

    Dictation

  • word

    願書

    Meaning

    Application

  • word

    参考書

    Meaning

    Reference book

  • word

    書店

    Meaning

    Bookstore

  • word

    聖書

    Meaning

    Bible

  • word

    秘書

    Meaning

    Secretary

  • word

    読書

    Meaning

    Reading

  • word

    読み書き

    Meaning

    Reading and writing

  • word

    書物

    Meaning

    Book

  • word

    書き込む

    Meaning

    Write in

  • word

    書簡

    Meaning

    Letter

  • word

    辞書

    Meaning

    Dictionary

  • word

    著書

    Meaning

    Book

  • word

    書記

    Meaning

    Clerk

  • word

    領収書

    Meaning

    Receipt

  • word

    書紀

    Meaning

    Chronicle

  • word

    書房

    Meaning

    Study

  • word

    葉書

    Meaning

    Postcard

  • word

    縦書き

    Meaning

    Vertical writing

  • word

    履歴書

    Meaning

    Resume

Words Related to 書き言葉 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

    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

    話し言葉

    Meaning

    Spoken language

  • word

    伝言

    Meaning

    Message

Words Related to 書き言葉 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

    紅葉

    Meaning

    Autumn leaves

  • word

    葉書

    Meaning

    Postcard

  • word

    話し言葉

    Meaning

    Spoken language

  • word

    葉っぱ

    Meaning

    Leaf

Learn the Word 書き言葉

Let's make sure you fully understand this word.

What does 'Kakikotoba' (書き言葉) mean?

'Kakikotoba' means 'Written language' .

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