言 — say, speech, word
げん
言
say
Grade 2
Japanese school grade level in which this kanji is taught. Grade 1 is first year of elementary school.
7 strokes
communication
U+8A00
Unicode hex codepoint — a unique identifier for this character in the Unicode standard.
Freq #83
Frequency rank among the ~2,500 most common kanji in Japanese newspapers. Lower number = more common.
Heisig #335
Index in James Heisig's "Remembering the Kanji" — a popular textbook that teaches kanji through mnemonics and stories.
Radical #149
Meanings
- say
- speech
- word
word
けん ・げん ken On'yomi On'yomi (音読み) — the Sino-Japanese reading, derived from Chinese pronunciation. Most commonly used in compound words (jukugo).
こん ・ごん kon On'yomi On'yomi (音読み) — the Sino-Japanese reading, derived from Chinese pronunciation. Most commonly used in compound words (jukugo).
こと ・ごと koto Kun'yomi Kun'yomi (訓読み) — the native Japanese reading of this kanji. Used when the kanji appears alone or with okurigana (trailing hiragana).
い i Kun'yomi Kun'yomi (訓読み) — the native Japanese reading of this kanji. Used when the kanji appears alone or with okurigana (trailing hiragana).
Appears in idioms
言行一致
四字熟語
say, go, one, doth
大言壮語
四字熟語
big, say, robust, language
甘言蜜語
四字熟語
sweet, say, honey, language
ああ言えばこう言う
慣用句
if said that way, say this way
ああ言えばこう言う
慣用句
if said that way, say this way
山と言えば川
慣用句
say mountain and one counters with river
言わぬは言うにまさる
諺
not saying a word surpasses saying one
言わぬは言うにまさる
諺
not saying a word surpasses saying one
Components
Atomic component This kanji has no further breakdown — it's a primitive building block used to compose others.
Used as component in (69)
はなし
話
talk
き
記
record
けい
計
measure
ご
語
language
よむ
読
read
ちょう
調
tone
だん
談
discuss
し
詩
poem
ぎ
議
deliberation
しん
信
trust
せつ
説
opinion
ためす
試
test
か
課
chapter
くん
訓
instruction
もうける
設
establishment
しょう
証
evidence
ご
護
safeguard
ひょう
評
evaluate
しき
識
discriminating
こう
講
lecture
ゆるす
許
permit
あやまる
謝
apologize
みとめる
認
acknowledge
ろん
論
argument
けい
警
admonish
おとずれる
訪
call on
うつ
討
chastise
しょ
諸
various
し
誌
document
たん
誕
nativity
やく
訳
translation
まこと
誠
sincerity
あやまる
誤
mistake
し
詞
part of speech
うったえ
訴
accusation
こう
請
request
ゆずる
譲
defer
さそう
誘
entice
みる
診
checkup
つめる
詰
packed
たくす
託
consign
しょう
訟
sue
ほめる
誉
reputation
くわしい
詳
detailed
ほこる
誇
boast
し
諮
consult with
ぼう
謀
conspire
さとし
諭
rebuke
だく
諾
consent
さ
詐
lie
ごく
獄
prison
ちかう
誓
vow
よう
謡
song
けん
謙
self-effacing
がい
該
above-stated
てい
訂
revise
ふ
譜
musical score
だれ
誰
who
よむ
詠
recitation
なぞ
謎
riddle
つつしむ
謹
discreet
しょう
詔
imperial edict
とう
謄
mimeograph
ふ
訃
obituary
あきらめる
諦
truth
えっ
謁
audience
かい
諧
harmony
もうで
詣
visit a temple
せん
詮
discussion