話す vs 言う
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 話す
Listen to 言う
| 話す | 言う |
|---|---|
ha-NA-su verb | いう (iu) verb |
| to speak; to talk | to say; to state; to utter words |
How they differ
言う focuses on the act of uttering specific words or conveying a particular message (often quoted or reported), while 話す emphasises speaking/conversing or the process of talking rather than a single utterance.
When to use each
When to use 話す: Prefer 話す when you mean to indicate having a conversation, speaking at length, or speaking with someone.
When to use 言う: Prefer 言う when you want to report what someone said, quote words, or indicate a specific utterance or statement.
Side-by-side examples
- 会議で新しい計画について話した。
(At the meeting I talked about the new plan.) - 会議で彼は「賛成だ」と言った。
(At the meeting he said, "I agree.")
Register & nuance: 言う is neutral and very common in both spoken and written Japanese; it is used for quoting and reporting speech more than 話す is.