言う
言う · godan verb (-u)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 言う | 言わない |
| Polite | 言います | 言いません |
| Past polite | 言いました | 言いませんでした |
| Past | 言った | 言わなかった |
| Te-form | 言って | 言わないで |
| Desire | 言いたい | 言いたくない |
| Potential | 言える | 言えない |
| Passive | 言われる | 言われない |
| Causative | 言わせる | 言わせない |
| Causative passive | 言わせられるalso 言わされる | 言わせられないalso 言わされない |
| Volitional | 言おう | |
| Polite volitional | 言いましょう | |
| Imperative | 言え | 言うな |
| Conditional | 言えば | 言わなければ |
| Tara conditional | 言ったら | 言わなかったら |
Meanings
godan verb (-u), transitive verb
General verb for expressing something verbally. Covers stating, telling, and declaring. Often used with quoted speech or と.
He said 'yes'.
The teacher said there will be a test tomorrow.
godan verb (-u), transitive verb
Used to indicate what someone or something is named or called. Common pattern: 〜を...と言う.
This flower is called sakura.
Some people call him a genius.
godan verb (-u), intransitive verb
make a sound; go (onomatopoeia)
Only when written 言う
Describes a sound being produced, often with onomatopoeic expressions. Restricted to the 言う kanji form. Intransitive use.
The alarm clock went 'ring ring'.
The window is rattling in the wind.
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉に〈事〉を言うto say/tell something to someone
I told the teacher the truth.
- 〈物〉を〈物〉と言うto call/name a thing as something
This animal is called a fox.
- 文句を言うto complain
He always complains.
- 冗談を言うto joke; to make a joke
He likes to joke around.
- はっきり言うto say clearly/frankly
To put it plainly, I think that's wrong.
- 独り言を言うto talk to oneself
She often talks to herself.
Expressions· 145
- というcalled; named; that says · as many as; as much as · all ...; every single ...
- 言うまでもなくobviously; needless to say; it goes without saying
- 言うまでもないgoes without saying; needless to say; obvious
- というのもbecause; the reason is
- 言いようmanner of speaking; way of saying something · as one speaks; at the same time as speaking
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- ていうかor rather; I mean; how should I put it · by the way; speaking of which
- 言うなればso to speak; as it were; in a manner of speaking
- というのはbecause; the reason is · as for; regarding; when it comes to
- お世辞を言うflatter; pay empty compliments
- なぜかというとthe reason is that ...; because
- といいin terms of both ... and ...; whether it be ... or ...
- ああいうthat sort of; like that
- かくいうin this way; along these lines; similarly
- とも言うalso called; also known as
- というかor rather; I mean; how should I put it