Difference Between TALK, SPEAK, SAY in Japanese
What is the difference between “talk”, “speak” and “say” in Japanese? I’d say you might have been getting confused in using “話す”, “喋る” and “言う”. And the way to use them might have been complicated. Let me introduce how you correctly use “話す”, “喋る” and “言う” today!
話す(hanasu)
Talk
“話す” means “Talk” and when using “話す”, someone needs a person who is listening to what he/she is talking about and a person is also talking to him/her with each other. The tip for using it is that when using “話す” is necessary “A PERSON someone is talking to”. That is the most difference between them.



喋る(shaberu)
Speak
“喋る” means “Speak” and “喋る” is often used as something one-side situations which are speeches, languages, etc. A person who is listening to what he/she is speaking however who isn’t talking to him/her with each other, unlike “話す”, just listening to. The tip for using it is “although there is a person, it is one-side situations” which means the others listening to what someone is speaking.

Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced



言う(iu)
Say
“言う” means “Say” which isn’t necessarily a person unlike “話す” and “喋る”. Someone is just saying something. The tip for using “言う” is to pay attention to “what someone said”.



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