ChiramiN4 kanji · 7 strokes
言 means say, word
言
言Real origin
It began as a mouth (口) with words coming out above it: to say.
Real origin: where the kanji comes from, as far as scholars agree.
Meaning and readings
- Meanings
- say, word
- JLPT level
- N4
- Strokes
- 7
- School grade
- Grade 2 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) いう iu
いう (iu) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
Other Japanese readings: こと koto
From Chinese (onyomi) ゲン gen
ゲン (gen) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Other readings from Chinese: ゴン gon
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
言う いう · iu
to say, to utter
Quick check
What does 言 mean?
Right: 言 means say, word.Not quite: 言 means say, word.In 言う, which reading does 言 use?
Right. 言う is read いう (iu): 言 takes い, its Japanese reading, with う after it.Not quite. 言う is read いう (iu): 言 takes い, its Japanese reading, with う after it.