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言葉遣い (ことばづかい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

言こと葉ば遣づかい

こ

と

ば

づ

か

い

Common word›JLPTN3›Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

wording; choice of words; speech; expression

Refers to how one uses language: word choice, phrasing, or manner of speaking. Often used in contexts of politeness, style, or appropriateness.

彼かれは言

こと

葉ば

遣づか

い

が

とても

丁てい

寧ねい

だ

。

His choice of words is very polite.

目め上うえの人ひとには言こと葉ば遣づかいに気きをつけなさい。

Be careful with your language when speaking to superiors.

Usage patterns

言こと葉ば遣づかいが〈形けい容よう詞し〉one's manner of speech is [adjective] (e.g. polite, rude)
彼かの女じょは言こと葉ば遣づかいが丁てい寧ねいだ。
She uses polite language.
言こと葉ば遣づかいに気きをつけるto be careful about one's choice of words
目め上うえの人ひとと話はなすときは言こと葉ば遣づかいに気きをつけてください。
Please be careful with your wording when speaking to someone above you.
言こと葉ば遣づかいを直なおすto correct someone's wording or manner of speaking
先せん生せいに言こと葉ば遣づかいを直なおされた。
I was corrected on my wording by the teacher.

Kanji

言say, word
葉leaf, plane, lobe
遣dispatch, despatch, send
使use, send on a mission, order

Related words

言いい方かたN1
言い方 focuses on the manner or tone of saying something, while 言葉遣い emphasizes the actual choice of words and vocabulary used.
話はなし方かた
話し方 covers the overall style of speaking, including speed and accent, whereas 言葉遣い specifically concerns word choice and phrasing.
口く調ちょう
口調 refers to the tone or intonation of speech, while 言葉遣い is about which words and expressions one chooses to use.

Don't confuse with

色いろ使づかいN2
色使い and 言葉遣い share the pattern 〜使い/遣い meaning 'way of using X,' but 色使い is about colors while 言葉遣い is about wording or speech style.

Written forms

言こと葉ば遣づかいUsage54%
Standard kanji spelling; high priority.
言こと葉ばづかいUsage31%
search-only kanji form
言こと葉ば使づかいUsage10%
Variant spelling using 使い instead of 遣い; less common but encountered.

Etymology

Compound of 言葉 (kotoba, 'word, language') and 遣い (tsukai, 'use, handling', from 遣う). The kanji 遣い implies deliberate use or application.

言いい回まわし

N1

言葉遣い covers a person's overall manner of speaking, including politeness level, while 言い回し refers to a single specific phrasing choice.

ことばづかい

Usage5%

Kana spelling used when kanji is not needed or for clarity.