remarks; comments; way of talking
Refers to what someone says or the manner in which they say it, often with a critical or evaluative nuance.
I was offended by his remarks.
That's a terrible thing to say.
Used when someone's words are perceived as a poor excuse or self-justification.
His only excuse for being late was that the train was crowded.
topic of conversation
Rare usage; refers to the subject matter being discussed.
I'm tired of hearing about that topic.
物言い is a more formal term for a statement or objection, often used in official contexts, whereas 言い草 is more colloquial and often carries a critical tone.
Standard kanji spelling.
Search-only mixed kana-kanji form.
Variant kanji spelling using 種.
Search-only kanji form; not commonly used.
Abbreviated kanji spelling.
Compound of 言い (continuative form of 言う 'to say') and 草 (originally 'grass', here used in the sense of 'kind' or 'material'). The exact derivation is uncertain, but it likely developed from the idea of 'the stuff of what is said'.