言いい表あらわす

い

あ

ら

わ

す

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

言い表す · godan verb (-su)

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	言いい表あらわす	言いい表あらわさない
Polite	言いい表あらわします	言いい表あらわしません
Past polite	言いい表あらわしました	言いい表あらわしませんでした
Past	言いい表あらわした	言いい表あらわさなかった
Te-form	言いい表あらわして	言いい表あらわさないで
Desire	言いい表あらわしたい	言いい表あらわしたくない
Potential	言いい表あらわせる	言いい表あらわせない
Passive	言いい表あらわされる	言いい表あらわされない
Causative	言いい表あらわさせる	言いい表あらわさせない
Causative passive	言いい表あらわさせられる	言いい表あらわさせられない
Volitional	言いい表あらわそう
Polite volitional	言いい表あらわしましょう
Imperative	言いい表あらわせ	言いい表あらわすな
Conditional	言いい表あらわせば	言いい表あらわさなければ
Tara conditional	言いい表あらわしたら	言いい表あらわさなかったら

Meanings

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.'

この気き持もちは言こと葉ばでは言いい表あらわせない。
I cannot express this feeling in words.
彼かの女じょは自じ分ぶんの考かんがえをはっきり言いい表あらわした。
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.'

古ふるい用よう例れいでは、罪つみを言いい表あらわすという形かたちで「告こく白はくする」という意い味みを表あらわすことがある。
In older examples, the form 罪を言い表す can mean 'to confess one's guilt.'

See all 11 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉を言いい表あらわせないto be unable to find the words to express something
この感かん動どうはとても言こと葉ばでは言いい表あらわせない。
I can't put this feeling of emotion into words at all.
〈事こと〉をうまく言いい表あらわすto skillfully put something into words
彼かれはその複ふく雑ざつな心しん情じょうをうまく言いい表あらわした。
He skillfully put that complicated feeling into words.
〈事こと〉を一ひと言ことで言いい表あらわすto sum something up in a single word or phrase
彼かの女じょの魅み力りょくを一ひと言ことで言いい表あらわすのは難むずかしい。
It's hard to sum up her charm in a single word.

Kanji

言say, word
表surface, table, chart
現present, existing, actual

Related words

表ひょう現げんN3sense 1
表現する is a broader, more formal verb for expressing or representing anything (words, art, gestures), while 言い表す is specifically about putting something into spoken or written words.
告こく白はくN1sense 2
告白する is the normal modern verb for confessing a secret, fault, or romantic feelings, while the 'confess' sense of 言い表す is rare and old-fashioned.
述のべるN3sense 1
述べる means to state or set forth facts, opinions, or reasons, whereas 言い表す emphasizes capturing an inner feeling or quality accurately in words.
白はく状じょうN1sense 2
白状する specifically means to admit wrongdoing or a hidden fact under pressure, a more common and direct choice than the little-used 'confess' sense of 言い表す.

Don't confuse with

言いい出だすN2sense 1
言い出す means to bring up a topic or start speaking about something, while 言い表す means to successfully express an idea or feeling in words; learners confuse them because both begin with 言い.

Built from

言いう+表あらわす

Written forms

言いい表あらわすUsage65%
Standard modern spelling; this is the most straightforward form for learners.
言いい表あらわすUsage22%
Attested okurigana variant of 言い表す; understandable and usable, though 言い表す is the simpler modern spelling.
いいあらわすUsage11%
言いい表あらわすUsage2%
Uncommon attested spelling without the kana い; mainly useful as a search or recognition form.
言いい現あらわす
Less common kanji spelling using 現す; mainly useful for recognition.

Etymology

Compound of 言い, the continuative form of 言う 'to say,' and 表す 'to express, reveal, make apparent.' The spelling is semantically transparent, but this is a practical component explanation rather than a detailed historical derivation.