語ご

noun, noun, used as a suffix, counter

word; term

Used as a standalone noun in linguistic or dictionary contexts, and very commonly as a suffix in compounds such as 専門語, 外来語, and 新語. It can also count words, especially in set or formal expressions.

• この語ごの意い味みを辞じ書しょで調しらべた。

  I looked up the meaning of this word in a dictionary.

• 専せん門もん語ごが多おおくて、説せつ明めいが分わかりにくい。

  There are many technical terms, so the explanation is hard to understand.

• 彼かれは一いち語ご一いっ句くを正せい確かくに覚おぼえていた。

  He remembered every single word exactly.

noun, noun, used as a suffix

language; speech; mode of expression

Commonly used as a suffix naming a language, as in 日本語 and 英語. It also appears in words for kinds of speech or expression, such as 口語 and 文語; the broader standalone sense 'speech' is more limited and often technical or compound-based.

• 日本にほん語ごで説せつ明めいしてください。

  Please explain it in Japanese.

• 彼かの女じょは英えい語ごと中ちゅう国ごく語ごを勉べん強きょうしている。

  She is studying English and Chinese.

• この表ひょう現げんは文ぶん語ごではなく口こう語ごでよく使つかわれる。

  This expression is often used in colloquial speech, not literary style.