Translation of Japanese word "言う" to English
言う
いう
[iu]
IPA: /iu/
Meaning
VerbTo pronounce.
How to use
言う (iu / yuu) — 'to say / tell'. Group 1 verb. いいます (polite), いった (past). 〜と言う — To say that ~. 何と言いましたか？ — What did you say?
🇬🇧 English
to say
Pronunciation Guide
Japanese Kanji: 言う
Phonetic Reading (Hiragana): いう
Romaji Transcription: iu
Example Sentences
彼は何を言う?
かれはなをいう?
What does he say?
彼女は「ありがとう」と言う。
かのじょうは「ありがとう」という。
She says "thank you".
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- 〜と言う— to say / be called ~
- 何と言いましたか？— What did you say?
This concept in other languages
Frequency rank: #37 in Japanese
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Japanese word "言う" mean?▼
The Japanese word "言う" means "to say" in English.
How do you pronounce the Japanese word "言う"?▼
The word "言う" is read as "いう" (iu). You can hear the correct audio pronunciation by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see a usage guide or example with "言う"?▼
Yes, here is a practical context/example: "Used in spoken language.".
More Core Verbs words
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