言いい改あらためる

い

あ

ら

た

め

る

Meanings

1

ichidan verb

correct oneself; take back one's words; retract

Used when someone realizes they said something wrong or inappropriate and then rephrases or withdraws the statement. Often implies a formal or careful correction.

彼かれは発はつ言げんを言いい改あらためて、誤あやまりを認みとめた。
He corrected his statement and admitted his mistake.
失しつ礼

れい

な

こと

を

言い

っ

て

しまっ

た

の

で

、

すぐ

に

言い

い

改あらた

め

た

。

I said something rude, so I immediately took it back.

Written forms

言いい改あらためるUsage100%
Standard kanji spelling with okurigana.
言いい改あらためる
Variant spelling without the extra okurigana; less common but still used.

Kanji

言say, word
改reformation, change, modify

Similar words

訂てい正せいする
訂正する is a more general term for correcting written or spoken errors, while 言い改める specifically refers to verbally correcting one's own previous statement.
撤てっ回かいする
撤回する means to formally withdraw or retract a statement or proposal, often in official contexts. 言い改める focuses on rephrasing or correcting, not necessarily a full withdrawal.

Etymology

Compound of 言い (the continuative form of 言う 'to say') and 改める 'to revise, correct'. The exact historical derivation is straightforward; the word has been used since at least the Edo period.