言 means “say, word”

い · i

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

いう, こと

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ゲン, ゴン

JLPT N5 · Taught in grade 2 · 7 strokes

The story

Sound waves rise from a mouth: to speak is to send ripples through the world. 言葉 (kotoba, words) are the threads that weave society together.

Used in 言葉 (kotoba, word) and 言語 (gengo, language)

More from Mind & Knowledge

• 習 learn
• 試 test
• 知 know
• 教 teach
• 考 think
• 記 record
• 答 answer
• 問 question
• 題 topic
• 正 correct
• 間 between
• 語 language

Learn 言 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.