Translation and Meaning of: 言う - iu

Have you ever wondered how the Japanese express something as simple as "to say"? The word 言う (いう) is one of those that seems basic but carries fascinating nuances. In this article, we will explore its etymology, everyday use, and even tips for memorizing the kanji. If you have ever used Suki Nihongo, you know that we are the largest online Japanese dictionary, and here you will also find ready-made sentences to study in Anki or another spaced repetition system. Let's go beyond the literal translation and dive into what makes this word so versatile.

Why is 言う so common in Japanese? It appears in everyday expressions, proverbs, and even in more complex grammatical structures. If you've ever heard someone say "そういうこと" (sou iu koto), you've already gotten a taste of the power of this word. And it doesn't stop there: the kanji 言 has a visual history that helps to solidify it in memory. Let's unravel all of this, including the reasons why students often search for "言う conjugation" or "言う vs 話す" on Google.

The Origin and the Kanji of 言う

The kanji 言 (gen, gon, iu) is one of those characters that tells a story just by looking at it. Notice: it shows a mouth (口) above lines that represent words coming out. It's no surprise that it appears in other words related to speech, such as 言語 (gengo - language) or 名言 (meigen - famous quote). In ancient writing, these lines resembled an altar, suggesting that words were considered sacred - after all, they have power, don't they?

Interestingly, the reading いう comes from the archaic verb "ゆう," which still survives in some regional dialects. A professor from Kyoto once corrected me when I said "言った" (itta), joking: "Here we say 'ゆうた'!" These variations show how the language is alive. And注意: although 言う is often written in hiragana (いう) in grammatical constructions, the kanji appears when the verb carries more semantic weight in the sentence.

How to Use 言う in Daily Life

"I heard that Sato-san is going to get married!" In Japanese, it would be "佐藤さんが結婚するそういう話を聞いた" (Sato-san ga kekkon suru sou iu hanashi o kiita). Did you notice how いう here connects the information to the act of reporting it? This is the essence of the verb: it not only indicates speech but also transmission of content. That's why it appears in expressions like "～という" (called...) or "どういう意味？" (what does it mean?).

A common mistake is to think that 言う and 話す are interchangeable. While 話す focuses on the act of conversing ("電話で話す" - talking on the phone), 言う highlights the content being said. Have you noticed how in stores we hear "いらっしゃいませ" but never "言いませ"? That's right - greetings are actions, not information. This subtle difference explains why "嘘を言う" (to tell a lie) sounds natural, but "嘘を話す" would sound as if the lie were an entire conversation!

Memorization and Curiosities

To never forget the kanji 言, do as my student Carlos did: he created a mnemonic - "an altar where words are sacred." It worked so well that he now recognizes this radical in other kanji like 信 (trust) or 語 (language). Another tip is to associate the sound いう with the Portuguese "iu" (as in "ele iu"), remembering that it is what we do when we emit words.

Did you know that 言う appears in one of the best-known proverbs in Japan? "言わぬが花" (iwanu ga hana - literally "not saying is the flower") means that some things are more beautiful when not verbalized. And on Japanese social media, it's common to see the abbreviation "ってゆーか" (tte yuu ka), a casual way of saying "というか". Even in memes, 言う demonstrates its versatility - proof that mastering it is essential for a natural Japanese speaker.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 言う

• 言う - Base shape
• 言います - polite form
• 言って - imperative form

Synonyms and similar words

• 述べる (noberu) - Explain or describe something.
• 発言する (hatsugen suru) - Make a statement or comment.
• 言葉を発する (kotoba o hassuru) - Expressing words or making a speech.
• 言い表す (iiarasu) - Articulate or express ideas clearly.
• 言い換える (iikaeru) - Rephrase or express in another way.
• 言い続ける (ii tsuzukeru) - Continue to say something.
• 言い伝える (ii tsutaeru) - To transmit information or stories orally.
• 言い聞かせる (ii kikasete) - Convince someone through speech or instruct.
• 言い訳する (iiwake suru) - Justifying or apologizing.
• 言い放つ (ii hanatsu) - To state or declare something emphatically.

言う

Romaji: iu
Kana: いう
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n3, jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: say

Meaning in English: to say

Definition: Tell or recount to someone about something. speak. state

Example Sentences - (言う) iu

See below some example sentences:

ぶつぶつ言わないで。

Butsu butsu iwanai de

Don't murmur.

Do not beat.

• ぶつぶつ - A word in Japanese that means "murmur", "grumble" or "complain"
• 言わないで - a Japanese expression meaning "don't say" or "don't speak"

世辞を言われると嬉しいです。

Séji wo iwareru to ureshii desu

I'm happy when I get compliments.

Glad you are complained.

• 世辞 - praise
• を - object particle
• 言われる - ser dito
• と - connecting particle
• 嬉しい - happy
• です - be (linking verb)

何と言っていいか分からない。

Nanto itte ii ka wakaranai

I do not know what to say.

I do not know what to say.

• 何と言っていいか - Japanese expression meaning "I don't know what to say"
• 分からない - Japanese verb meaning "not to understand"

何とも言えない。

Nantomo ienai

I can't say anything about it.

I can't say anything.

• 何とも言えない - Japanese expression meaning "indescribable" or "difficult to explain"

彼は何も言わなかった。

Kare wa nanimo iwanakatta

He did not say anything.

• 彼 - The Japanese pronoun that means "he" is 彼 (かれ, kare).
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "he".
• 何も - Japanese adverb that means "nothing" or "none"
• 言わなかった - Japanese verb meaning "did not say" or "did not speak", conjugated in the negative past
• . - full stop, indicating the end of the sentence

彼女は意地悪な言葉を言った。

Kanojo wa ijiwaru na kotoba o itta

She said evil words.

She said an evil word.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - she
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 意地悪 (ijiwaru) - evil, cruel
• な (na) - particle modifying a noun
• 言葉 (kotoba) - word
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 言った (itta) - he said

愚痴を言っても仕方がない。

Guchi wo ittemo shikata ga nai

There is no choice but to complain.

• 愚痴 - complaint
• を - direct object particle
• 言っても - even if you speak
• 仕方 - way, manner
• が - subject particle
• ない - negation

略語は日本語で「りゃくご」と言います。

Ryakugo wa nihongo de "ryakugo" to iimasu

The abbreviation is called "Ryakugo" in Japanese.

• 略語 - Word in Japanese that means "abbreviation".
• は - Topic particle
• 日本語 - Japanese word that means "Japanese language"
• で - particle that indicates the means or tool used to do something
• 「りゃくご」 - Word in Japanese that means "abbreviation" (written in katakana, one of the Japanese writing systems)
• と - particle that indicates the direct quote of something said or written
• 言います - Japanese verb meaning "to say"

祝賀の言葉を贈ります。

Shukuga no kotoba wo okurimasu

I send words of congratulations.

I will give you a word of congratulations.

• 祝賀 - congratulation
• の - Possession particle
• 言葉 - Word, expression
• を - direct object particle
• 贈ります - gift, offer

私は率直な意見を言います。

Watashi wa socchoku na iken o iimasu

I will give my sincere opinion.

I give a frank opinion.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 率直 (socchoku) - It means "frankness" or "sincerity" in Japanese.
• な (na) - grammatical particle that modifies the adjective "sincere" to fit the Japanese grammar
• 意見 (iken) - It means "opinion" in Japanese.
• を (wo) - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "opinion"
• 言います (iimasu) - verb meaning "to say" in Japanese, conjugated in the polite form