言げん語ご

also: ごんご · げんきょ

げ

ん

ご

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

noun

language

Refers to a system of communication used by a particular country or community. Can also refer to the faculty of speech or a specific style of expression.

日本にほん語ごは難むずかしい言げん語ごだと言いわれる。
Japanese is said to be a difficult language.
彼かれは五いつつの言げん語ごを話はなせる。
He can speak five languages.

Written forms

言語Usage100%
- げんご
  Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
- ごんご
- げんきょ
  out-dated reading
ごんご
Rare reading; not commonly used in modern Japanese.
げんきょ
out-dated reading
Obsolete kana usage; historical reading.

Kanji

言say, word
語word, speech, language

Similar words

言こと葉ば
言葉 is a more general term for 'word' or 'language' in everyday contexts, while 言語 is more formal and often used in academic or technical discussions about language systems.
語ご
語 is a suffix meaning 'language' (e.g., 日本語), whereas 言語 is a standalone noun.

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 言語 (MC ŋɨɐn ŋɨʌX, “language, speech”). The reading げんご is the regular on'yomi. The alternative reading ごんご reflects an older borrowing pattern, and げんきょ is an obsolete kana usage.