Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 話 | hanashi | [ha̠na̠ɕi] (narrow) |
| 物語 | monogatari | [mo̞no̞ɡa̠ta̠ɾʲi] (narrow) |
| 小説 | shōsetsu | [ɕo̞ːse̞t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
| ストーリー | sutōrī | [sɨ̥to̞ːɾʲiː] (narrow) |
The term for 'story' changes significantly based on whether you are talking about a spoken anecdote, a written novel, a plot or an epic tale. Use 話 for general accounts of events or conversations, and ストーリー when discussing the structural plot of a piece of media like a movie or a game.
Which one should you use?
There are several distinct forms to choose from. 話 is the most versatile term and can range from a simple chat or anecdote to a spoken account of events. 物語 refers to a more formal, epic or narrative-driven tale, often found in literature or folklore. 小説 specifically refers to a written work of fiction, such as a novel or short story. Finally, ストーリー is a loanword from English used primarily when discussing the plot or narrative structure of a movie, game or book.
How do you pronounce it?
hanashi
When do people say it?
In Japanese culture, the phrase 怖い話 (kowai hanashi), meaning 'scary story,' is a common way to refer to ghost stories or urban legends.
Did you know?
- The word 小説 for 'novel' literally translates to 'small explanation' or 'small narrative'.
- If you want to tell a 'story' in the sense of a joke, you would use the word ネタ (neta) instead of 話.
Examples in context
- 実話だった。It was a true story.This sentence uses 話 to describe a true account.Tatoeba #9974607 by small_snow, translation #2323398 by BraveSentry
- 怪談話して！Tell us a ghost story!This sentence uses 話 to request a ghost story.Tatoeba #11518966 by small_snow, translation #6024114 by Hybrid
- 怖い話して。Tell a scary story.This sentence uses 話 to request a scary story.Tatoeba #11792752 by small_snow, translation #10861085 by ddnktr
- その本はとても素敵な物語です。That book is a very lovely story.
- 昨日、面白い話を聞いたよ！Yesterday, I heard an interesting story!
- 彼女はいつも素敵なものがたりをしてくれる。She always tells wonderful stories.
- 283 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are chatting at a cafe.
- 蓮 Ren面白い話があるんだけど、聞く？Omoshiroi hanashi ga aru ndakedo, kiku?I have a funny story, do you want to hear it?
- 美咲 Misakiいいよ。どんな話なの？Ii yo. Donna hanashi nano?Sure. What kind of story is it?
- 蓮 Ren昨日、道で変な人を見た話だよ。Kinou, michi de hen na hito o mita hanashi dayo.It's a story about a strange person I saw on the street yesterday.
- 美咲 Misaki気になる！早く教えて。Ki ni naru! Hayaku oshiete.I'm curious! Tell me quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “story” translations and entries 話, 物語, 小説, ストーリー, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ストーリー, 小説, 話, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
