What makes us human is our ability to communicate. Conveying thoughts through words (伝える), listening with our ears (聞く), persuading through logic (説く) — in Japanese, nearly all of these communication verbs share one radical: 言 (ごんべん, the speech radical).
This article teaches you 20 kanji related to speaking, conveying, and discussing.
Core Kanji Table
Speaking & Listening
| Kanji | On'yomi | Kun'yomi | Meaning | Common Words | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 言 | ゲン (gen)・ゴン (gon) | い (i)・こと (koto) | say / words | 言う (いう, to say), 言葉 (ことば, words) | 言う = most basic "say" |
| 話 | ワ (wa) | はな (hana)・はなし (hanashi) | speak / story | 話す (はなす, to speak), 会話 (かいわ, conversation) | 話す = speak TO someone |
| 聞 | ブン (bun)・モン (mon) | き (ki) | hear / ask | 聞く (きく, to hear/ask), 新聞 (しんぶん, newspaper) | Two meanings: hear AND ask! |
| 問 | モン (mon) | と (to) | question | 問う (とう, to question), 問題 (もんだい, problem) | 問題 = problem / question |
| 答 | トウ (tō) | こた (kota) | answer | 答える (こたえる, to answer), 回答 (かいとう, reply) | 答え = the answer |
| 教 | キョウ (kyō) | おし (oshi)・おそ (oso) | teach | 教える (おしえる, to teach), 教育 (きょういく, education) | 教室 = classroom |
| 伝 | デン (den) | つた (tsuta) | convey | 伝える (つたえる, to convey), 伝統 (でんとう, tradition) | 伝言 = message |
Informing & Reporting
| Kanji | On'yomi | Kun'yomi | Meaning | Common Words | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 告 | コク (koku) | つ (tsu) | inform / tell | 告げる (つげる, to tell), 広告 (こうこく, advertisement) | 広告 = ad |
| 報 | ホウ (hō) | むく (muku) | report | 報告 (ほうこく, report), 情報 (じょうほう, information) | 情報 = information |
| 知 | チ (chi) | し (shi) | know | 知る (しる, to know), 知識 (ちしき, knowledge) | 知り合い = acquaintance |
| 説 | セツ (setsu) | と (to) | explain | 説明 (せつめい, explanation), 説く (とく, to explain) | 小説 = novel |
| 語 | ゴ (go) | かた (kata) | language / narrate | 語る (かたる, to narrate), 日本語 (にほんご, Japanese) | 語る = narrate at length |
| 談 | ダン (dan) | — | discuss | 相談 (そうだん, consultation), 会談 (かいだん, talks) | 相談 = to consult |
Debating & Calling Out
| Kanji | On'yomi | Kun'yomi | Meaning | Common Words | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 議 | ギ (gi) | — | deliberate | 会議 (かいぎ, meeting), 議論 (ぎろん, debate) | 会議 = meeting |
| 論 | ロン (ron) | — | argue / thesis | 論文 (ろんぶん, thesis), 議論 (ぎろん, debate) | 論文 = academic paper |
| 訴 | ソ (so) | うった (utta) | appeal / sue | 訴える (うったえる, to appeal), 訴訟 (そしょう, lawsuit) | Two uses: appeal AND sue |
| 誓 | セイ (sei) | ちか (chika) | swear / vow | 誓う (ちかう, to swear), 誓い (ちかい, oath) | 誓い = vow |
| 諭 | ユ (yu) | さと (sato) | admonish | 諭す (さとす, to admonish), 教諭 (きょうゆ, teacher) | 教諭 = teacher (formal title) |
| 唱 | ショウ (shō) | とな (tona) | chant / sing | 歌を唱える, 合唱 (がっしょう, chorus) | 合唱 = chorus |
| 叫 | キョウ (kyō) | さけ (sake) | shout | 叫ぶ (さけぶ, to shout), 絶叫 (ぜっきょう, scream) | 絶叫 = scream |
The Speech Radical (ごんべん) Pattern
Over half of the 20 kanji contain the 言 (ごんべん) radical:
言, 話, 聞, 問, 答, 説, 語, 談, 議, 論, 訴, 誓, 諭
This radical comes from 言 itself, meaning "related to language and speech." Whenever you see the speech radical in a kanji, you can almost guarantee the character relates to speaking, language, or communication.
| Radical | Reading | Meaning | Representative Kanji |
|---|---|---|---|
| 言 (訁) | ごんべん | speech / language | 話, 語, 説, 談, 議, 論 |
| 口 | くちへん | mouth | 告, 叫, 唱, 問 |
| 耳 | みみへん | ear | 聞 |
Tip: See 言? Think "speech" — this is the strongest clue for memorizing communication kanji.
話す vs. 言う vs. 語る: Three Ways to "Say"
Japanese has three common verbs for "saying," each with a different nuance:
| Verb | Reading | Meaning | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 言う | いう | say (utter words) | Saying a specific thing | 「ありがとう」と言う (say "thank you") |
| 話す | はなす | speak (communicate) | Speaking to someone | 日本語を話す (speak Japanese) |
| 語る | かたる | narrate (tell at length) | Storytelling, deep topics | 夢を語る (talk about one's dreams) |
In short: 言う emphasizes "uttering," 話す emphasizes "communicating," 語る emphasizes "narrating."
The Dual Identity of 聞く
聞く has two meanings: to hear AND to ask.
- Hear: 音楽を聞く (listen to music)
- Ask: 先生に聞く (ask the teacher)
How to tell which? Look at the particle — を聞く is usually "hear/listen," に聞く is usually "ask."
Also note: 新聞 (しんぶん) means "newspaper" in Japanese, NOT "news." News = ニュース.
Japanese Communication Culture: Tatemae & Honne
Behind Japanese communication kanji lies a cultural code:
- 本音 (ほんね) = true feelings, what you really think
- 建前 (たてまえ) = public facade, what you say on the surface
Japanese culture values 空気を読む (くうきをよむ, "reading the air") — understanding what is left unsaid. This is why Japanese has so many communication kanji, each representing a different way of "saying."
| Term | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 本音 | ほんね | true feelings |
| 建前 | たてまえ | public facade |
| 空気を読む | くうきをよむ | reading the air (reading between the lines) |
Practice
Q1. What are the two meanings of 聞く? How do you tell them apart?
Show answer
To hear and to ask. を聞く = hear/listen (音楽を聞く = listen to music); に聞く = ask (先生に聞く = ask the teacher).
Q2. What's the difference between 話す, 言う, and 語る?
Show answer
言う = to utter (emphasis on saying something specific), 話す = to speak to someone (emphasis on communication), 語る = to narrate (emphasis on telling a story or discussing something deeply).
Q3. What does Japanese 新聞 (しんぶん) mean?
Show answer
Newspaper. Japanese 新聞 = newspaper, NOT news/news report. News = ニュース.
Q4. What are the two uses of 訴える?
Show answer
To appeal/express and to sue. 痛みを訴える = express pain (emotional appeal); 裁判所に訴える = sue in court (legal action).
Q5. What do 建前 and 本音 mean?
Show answer
建前 (たてまえ) = public facade, the polite/appropriate things said in social situations. 本音 (ほんね) = true feelings, what one actually thinks inside. This is a core concept in Japanese communication culture.
Summary
- Most communication kanji contain the 言 (ごんべん) radical — see 言, think "speech"
- 話す, 言う, and 語る are three kinds of "say": uttering, communicating, narrating
- 聞く has two meanings: "hear" and "ask" — distinguish by particle
- 新聞 = newspaper, not news (news = ニュース)
- Japanese communication culture balances 建前 (public facade) and 本音 (true feelings)
- Next up: Thinking & Judging — learn kanji like 思う, 考える, 決める for cognition