言 Kanji – say
The Japanese kanji 言 can mean say, word.
Meaning and Readings
How is 言 read?
言 has the onyomi readings ゲン, ゴン and the kunyomi readings いう, こと.
In romaji, these readings can be written as gen, gon, iu, koto.
Common Japanese Words Using 言
These common Japanese words contain 言. Select linked kanji to explore their meanings and readings.
- こう言う（こういう） — such, this sort of, like this
- と言うもの（というもの） — something like ..., something called ...
- と言えば（といえば） — speaking of ...
- どう言う（どういう） — what kind of, what sort of, what
- 遺言（ゆいごん） — will, testament, one's dying wish, one's last words
- 過言（かごん） — exaggeration, overstatement, saying too much
- 甘言（かんげん） — sweet words, smooth talk, cajolery, flattery, sycophancy
- 狂言（きょうげん） — kyogen, farce presented between noh plays or during the interlude of a noh play
- 苦言（ くげん） — candid advice, frank advice, honest opinion, exhortation, harsh but honest advice
- 言い回し（いいまわし） — expression, phraseology