言い返す
言い返す · godan verb (-su)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 言い返す | 言い返さない |
| Polite | 言い返します | 言い返しません |
| Past polite | 言い返しました | 言い返しませんでした |
| Past | 言い返した | 言い返さなかった |
| Te-form | 言い返して | 言い返さないで |
| Desire | 言い返したい | 言い返したくない |
| Potential | 言い返せる | 言い返せない |
| Passive | 言い返される | 言い返されない |
| Causative | 言い返させる | 言い返させない |
| Causative passive | 言い返させられる | 言い返させられない |
| Volitional | 言い返そう | |
| Polite volitional | 言い返しましょう | |
| Imperative | 言い返せ | 言い返すな |
| Conditional | 言い返せば | 言い返さなければ |
| Tara conditional | 言い返したら | 言い返さなかったら |
Meanings
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
talk back; answer back; retort; reply
Means to say something back in response, often with a defensive, argumentative, or defiant tone. It can also be a neutral 'reply/respond' when the context is simply answering back.
When he is warned, he immediately talks back.
She retorted, "That's not true."
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
repeat back; say again; say over
Less central than the retort sense. Used for saying the same words again or repeating someone’s words back, rather than arguing.
The child repeated my words back exactly, without understanding their meaning.
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉に言い返すto talk back to someone
He talked back to the teacher.
- 〈人〉の言葉を言い返すto repeat someone's words back to them
The child repeated his mother's words right back to her.
- 言い返す言葉がないto have no comeback; to be at a loss for a retort
When she said that, I had no comeback.
- 強く言い返すto retort sharply/forcefully
She fired back sharply, refusing to back down.