説
opinion, theory, explanation, rumor
Readings
On'yomi
- セツ
- ゼイ
Kun'yomi
- と.く
Nanori
- さとし
- とき
Meaning
説 centers on expressing ideas through words: an opinion, a theory, an explanation, or even a rumor—all are ways of putting thoughts into speech.
Most common words using 説
22 of 366- 説明せつめいN5
explanation; exposition; description; account; caption; legend
- 小説しょうせつN4
novel; story; (work of) fiction
- 解説かいせつN2
explanation; commentary; exposition; elucidation
- 伝説でんせつN1
legend; folklore; tradition
- 説せつN3
theory; doctrine
- 説得せっとくN2
persuasion
- 演説えんぜつN3
speech; address
- 説教せっきょうN1
sermon; preaching; homily
- 仮説かせつN1
hypothesis; supposition; assumption; tentative theory
- 説くとくN1
to explain; to preach; to advocate
- 社説しゃせつN2
editorial; leading article; leader
- 定説ていせつ
established theory; accepted opinion; accepted explanation
- 論説ろんせつ
article; discourse; dissertation; (written) argument; commentary
- 力説りきせつ
emphasizing (a point, argument, etc.); stressing; insistence; arguing strongly (for, against)
- 学説がくせつN1
theory
- 逆説ぎゃくせつ
paradox
- 遊説ゆうぜい
election tour; election campaign; stumping
- 序説じょせつ
introduction
- 小説家しょうせつか
novelist; fiction writer
- 説明書せつめいしょ
(printed) instructions; manual; explanatory leaflet (pamphlet, note); description
- 推理小説すいりしょうせつ
mystery novel; detective novel; whodunit
- 説得力せっとくりょく
persuasiveness; powers of persuasion; cogency
Study
Etymology
説 combines 言 (speech) with 兑, which likely contributes the sound and originally meant 'to exchange' or 'to pass through,' giving the idea of exchanging words or explaining.
Meaning mnemonic
Words (言) are exchanged (兑) to share an opinion, theory, or explanation. Picture two people talking, their words flowing back and forth like a conversation.
Reading mnemonic
For セツ, imagine a set of theories being explained: set -> セツ, and each theory is a set of ideas expressed in words.