話す vs 語る
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 話す
Listen to 語る
| 話す | 語る |
|---|---|
ha-NA-su verb | かたる (kataru) verb |
| to speak; to talk | to tell; to narrate; to relate (often a story or experience) |
How they differ
語る implies narrating or recounting something in a reflective or often structured way (stories, experiences, viewpoints), while 話す is more general and can mean any act of speaking or conversing without the narrative emphasis.
When to use each
When to use 話す: Prefer 話す for everyday conversation or to indicate the act of speaking generally.
When to use 語る: Prefer 語る when you describe telling a story, giving a detailed account, or speaking in a literary/serious tone.
Side-by-side examples
- 彼は自分の経験について話した。
(He talked about his experiences.) - 彼は自分の経験を語った。
(He recounted his experiences.)
Register & nuance: 語る is more formal or literary and often used in written language or serious spoken accounts; it sounds stronger and more intentional than 話す.