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say, word

JLPT N4 Grade 2 7 strokes
Kun'yomi
い・こと
On'yomi
ゲン・ゴン
Radical
· speech (words, speak)

言 means "say, word". It is a JLPT N4 kanji written in 7 strokes. It is read い・こと in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and ゲン・ゴン in compounds (on'yomi). Japanese schoolchildren learn it in grade 2.

Example word

to say

言 in example sentences

  • ふげんじっこう

    Fugen jikkou.

    Deeds, not words.

  • なんうな。

    Nan mo yuu na.

    Say nothing.

  • なんった?

    Nan ka itta?

    What did you say?

Example sentences from the Tatoeba Project, licensed CC-BY 2.0 FR.

Stroke order & writing

Want more? Practice writing from memory. Stroke-order and animation sources are on our credits page.

Words that use 言

More (speech) kanji

Common questions

What does the kanji 言 mean?
言 means "say, word". It is a JLPT N4 kanji.
How many strokes does 言 have?
言 is written in 7 strokes.
How is 言 read?
It is read い・こと in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and ゲン・ゴン in compounds (on'yomi).
What JLPT level is 言?
言 is a JLPT N4 kanji.