言う
いう · iu
To say, to utter, to declare
- to name, to call
- to go (e.g. "the alarm went ping"), to make a noise
Other ways to say “to say” in Japanese →
flat · what is pitch accent?
Example sentences
試験の結果から言うと、合格した。
しけんのけっかからいうと、ごうかくした。
Judging from the exam results, I passed.
Nihoner sentence bank
この競技は経験者から言うと、スタートが肝心だ。
このきょうぎはけいけんしゃからいうと、すたーとがかんじんだ。
Speaking from experience, the start is crucial in this event.
Nihoner sentence bank
祖父は新聞を読むと、いつも感想を言う。
そふはしんぶんをよむと、いつもかんそうをいう。
Whenever grandfather reads the newspaper, he always comments.
Nihoner sentence bank
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Conjugation
| Polite (ます形) | 言いますいいます |
| Polite negative (ません) | 言いませんいいません |
| Polite past (ました) | 言いましたいいました |
| Polite past negative (ませんでした) | 言いませんでしたいいませんでした |
| Let us ~ (ましょう) | 言いましょういいましょう |
| Masu-stem (連用形) | 言いいい |
| Want to ~ (たい形) | 言いたいいいたい |
| While ~ing (ながら) | 言いながらいいながら |
| Te-form (て形) | 言っていって |
| Plain past (た形) | 言ったいった |
| Tara-conditional (たら形) | 言ったらいったら |
| Progressive (ている形) | 言っているいっている |
| Plain negative (ない形) | 言わないいわない |
| Plain past negative (なかった形) | 言わなかったいわなかった |
| Negative te-form (なくて) | 言わなくていわなくて |
| Potential (可能形) | 言えるいえる |
| Ba-conditional (条件形) | 言えばいえば |
| Imperative (命令形) | 言えいえ |
| Volitional (意向形) | 言おういおう |
| Passive (受身形) | 言われるいわれる |
| Causative (使役形) | 言わせるいわせる |
| Causative-passive (使役受身形) | 言わされるいわされる |
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Words that share a kanji
Questions
What does 言う mean?
To say, to utter, to declare. It can also mean: to name, to call; to go (e.g. "the alarm went ping"), to make a noise.
How do you pronounce 言う?
いう (iu). Pitch accent: heiban — flat. Press Listen above to hear it.
What JLPT level is 言う?
JLPT N5 — beginner. See the JLPT N5 guide.
How do I remember 言う?
Say it out loud with an example sentence, test yourself above, then save it to your deck: Nihoner brings it back just before you would forget it (spaced repetition).
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