言い表す · godan verb (-su)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 言い表す | 言い表さない |
| Polite | 言い表します | 言い表しません |
| Past polite | 言い表しました | 言い表しませんでした |
| Past | 言い表した | 言い表さなかった |
| Te-form | 言い表して | 言い表さないで |
| Desire | 言い表したい | 言い表したくない |
| Potential | 言い表せる | 言い表せない |
| Passive | 言い表される | 言い表されない |
| Causative | 言い表させる | 言い表させない |
| Causative passive | 言い表させられる | 言い表させられない |
| Volitional | 言い表そう | |
| Polite volitional | 言い表しましょう | |
| Imperative | 言い表せ | 言い表すな |
| Conditional | 言い表せば | 言い表さなければ |
| Tara conditional | 言い表したら | 言い表さなかったら |
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
express in words; put into words; describe verbally
Transitive verb for making thoughts, feelings, qualities, or impressions explicit through language. Very common in the negative potential pattern 言い表せない, 'cannot put into words.'
I cannot express this feeling in words.
She clearly expressed her thoughts.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
confess; admit openly in words
A limited or less usual extension meaning to state something previously hidden, such as a fault or guilt. In ordinary modern Japanese, 告白する or 白状する is usually more direct for 'confess.'
In older examples, the form 罪を言い表す can mean 'to confess one's guilt.'
I can't put this feeling of emotion into words at all.
He skillfully put that complicated feeling into words.
It's hard to sum up her charm in a single word.
Less common kanji spelling using 現す; mainly useful for recognition.