Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 単語 | tango | [tã̠ŋɡo̞] (narrow) |
| 言葉 | kotoba | [ko̞to̞ba̠] (narrow) |
| 語 | go | [ɡo̞] (narrow) |
In Japanese, the term used for "word" depends on whether you are discussing a linguistic unit or the act of speech. Use 言葉 when referring to words as a means of expression, speech or language itself. This term can also be used in a plural sense to mean "words" or "language".
Which one should you use?
There are three distinct ways to express this concept based on the level of specificity: 単語 is a technical term used when referring to a word as a discrete unit of vocabulary, such as when studying a language or looking something up in a dictionary. 言葉 is a broader, more general term used for words as they appear in speech or as a tool for expression. Finally, 語 functions as a suffix to denote a specific language, such as in English or Japanese.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
tango
Did you know?
- The word 言葉 (kotoba) literally translates to 'words's edge' or 'the edge of words'. It is a compound of 'koto' (word/thing) and 'ha' (edge/end).
- Because 言葉 can mean both 'words' and 'language', you might say a person has 'good words' to mean they are eloquent or have a way with language.
- The word 言葉 appears in the 'Man'yōshū', which is the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry and dates back to the 8th century.
Examples in context
- 昔の言葉だよ。It's an old word.This sentence shows how to describe an old version of 言葉.Tatoeba #10194808 by small_snow, translation #10179314 by Lyte3000
- この言葉いいね。I like this word.This sentence expresses a preference for a specific 言葉.Tatoeba #10195029 by small_snow, translation #9741462 by DJ_Saidez
- 難しい単語です。It's a difficult word.This sentence describes the difficulty level of a specific 単語.Tatoeba #12423870 by small_snow, translation #10687003 by AlanF_US
- 196 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are studying English together in a cafe.
- 蓮 Renこの単語の読み方はわかりますか？kono tango no yomikata wa wakarimasu ka?Do you know how to read this word?
- 美咲 Misakiいえ、まだ覚えられていません。ie, mada oboerarete imasen.No, I haven't memorized it yet.
- 蓮 Ren一緒に練習しましょう。issho ni renshuu shimashou.Let's practice together.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとうございます、蓮さん。arigatou gozaimasu, Ren-san.Thank you, Ren.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “word” translations and entries 単語, 言葉, 語, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 言葉, 語, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
