noun
Refers to the feeling or attitude conveyed through one's voice or choice of words, often implying an underlying emotion such as anger, sarcasm, or excitement.
彼の語気には怒りが感じられた。
I could sense anger in his tone.
語気を強めて反論した。
He argued back, his tone growing stronger.
Compound of 語 (go, 'word' or 'language') and 気 (ki, 'spirit' or 'feeling'), literally 'word-spirit'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination naturally conveys the idea of emotional tone in speech.