► 副詞
言わば [(1)いわば] [liter] meaning: so to speak rank: 4
☆ それは言わば～のようなものだ ⇨ That is kind of like …, so to speak
► 動詞
言う [(2)いう] [と言う] meaning: call rank: 1
☆ 人生と言うのは分からないものだ ⇨ What’s called life is unknown. You never know what life brings
☆ 山田工業と言う会社は聞いた事がない ⇨ I’ve never heard a company called Yamada Industry
言う [(2)いう] meaning: say rank: 1
☆ 何が言いたいんだ？ ⇨ What are you trying to say?
☆ 彼は何も言わなかった ⇨ He didn’t say anything
言える [いえる] [liter] meaning: say rank: 1
☆ 一概にそうとは言えない ⇨ You can’t say that’s always the case (☛ Can say, be said)
☆ 今は何とも言えない ⇨ We can’t say anything definitive right now (☛ Can say, be said)
☆ 彼にも一部責任が有ると言える ⇨ You can say he is partially responsible (☛ Can say, be said)
言う [(2)いう] [と言われる] meaning: say rank: 1
☆ 彼は史上最高のサッカー選手と言われる ⇨ It is said he is the best footballer in the history
言う [(2)いう] [coll] meaning: sound rank: 1
☆ この戸はギーギー言う。この荷台はガタガタ言う ⇨ This door squeaks. This cart rattles (☛ Makes certain noise. Always accompanied by an adverb that describes the specific noise)
言う [(2)いう] meaning: tell rank: 1
☆ 人に言えない悩み ⇨ A problem you cannot tell others
言い表す [(5)いいあらわす] meaning: describe rank: 2
☆ どう言い表していいのか分からない ⇨ I don’t know how to put it into words, describe it (☛ Describe by speaking)
言い張る [(3)いいはる] [coll] meaning: insist rank: 2
☆ 息子は自分がやったのではないと言い張った ⇨ My son insisted that he didn’t do it (☛ Insist he/she is right and/or blameless)
言い切る [(3)いいきる] meaning: say rank: 2
☆ その可能性が絶対ないとは言い切れない ⇨ You can’t say definitively that the possibility doesn’t exist (☛ Say definitively, categorically)
言い触らす [(4)いいふらす] meaning: announce rank: 3
☆ 彼女は彼が盗んだに違いないと言い触らした ⇨ She told everybody that he must’ve stolen it (☛ Tell many people something true or false, with a malicious intent)
言い争う [(5)いいあらそう] meaning: argue rank: 3
☆ 政治家達はいつも言い争っている ⇨ Politicians are always arguing (☛ Argue, typically in an illogical, silly, manner)
言い逃れる [(5)いいのがれる] meaning: excuse rank: 3
☆ 言い逃れることは出来ないぞ ⇨ You can’t talk your way out of this (☛ Make lame excuses)
言い残す [(4)いいのこす] meaning: message rank: 3
☆ 彼は遺産を寄付するようにと言い残して死んだ ⇨ He told to donate his assets and died (☛ Leave a message)
言い付ける [(4)いいつける] [coll] meaning: order rank: 3
☆ 母親に用事を言い付けられた ⇨ My mother told me to some chores
言い聞かせる [(5)いいきかせる] meaning: persuade rank: 3
☆ 私は何とかなると自分に言い聞かせようとした ⇨ I tried to convince myself that things would work out
言い換える [(4)いいかえる] meaning: rephrase rank: 3
☆ 別の言葉で言い換えると… ⇨ To put it in other words…, to rephrase it…
言い返す [(3)いいかえす] meaning: respond rank: 3
☆ 言い返す言葉が見つからなかった ⇨ I couldn’t find a retort.
言わせる [いわせる] meaning: say rank: 3
☆ 彼に言わせると… ⇨ According to him, in his words (☛ Often contains a cynical tone to contradict the speaker)
言い渡す [(4)いいわたす] [liter] meaning: tell rank: 3
☆ 彼は最後通告を言い渡した ⇨ He gave an ultimatum
☆ 裁判官は判決を言い渡した ⇨ The judge delivered a verdict
言い付ける [(4)いいつける] [coll] meaning: tell on rank: 3
☆ お父さんにお前のしたこと言い付けてやる ⇨ I will tell dad what you have done (☛ Usually for children)
言い合う [(3)いいあう] meaning: argue rank: 4
☆ 彼等は悪口を言い合っている ⇨ They are cursing at each other
言い古す [(4)いいふるす] meaning: cliche rank: 4
☆ 言い古された言葉 ⇨ Overused words, cliches
言い募る [(4)いいつのる] meaning: insist rank: 4
☆ 彼は米国には人種差別は存在しないと言い募った ⇨ He insisted there was no racism in the US
言いくるめる [(5)いいくるめる] meaning: persuade rank: 4
☆ 私は彼に旨く言いくるめられてしまった ⇨ I was somehow persuaded to accept his idea (☛ Talk into something by song and dance)
言い直す [(4)いいなおす] meaning: rephrase rank: 4
☆ 別の表現で言い直すと… ⇨ If I rephrase it with a different expression … (☛ Rephrase because one felt the previous remark was inaccurate or inappropriate)
言い放つ [(4)いいはなつ] meaning: say rank: 4
☆ 彼は「好きなようにしろ。俺の知ったことじゃない」と言い放った ⇨ “Do whatever you want. I don’t give a damn”, he said without any reservation (☛ Say something definitively to dismiss criticism)
言い交わす [(4)いいかわす] meaning: say rank: 4
☆ 彼等は別れの言葉を言い交わした ⇨ They exchanged farewells (☛ Say to each other)
言い捨てる [(4)いいすてる] meaning: say rank: 4
☆ 「覚えていろ」と彼は言い捨てて去った ⇨ He said “don’t forget this” and left (☛ Utter a parting shot)
言い寄る [(3)いいよる] [coll] meaning: woo rank: 4
☆ 沢山の男が彼女に言い寄ってくる ⇨ Many men hit on her (☛ Men to hit on women)
言いさす [(3)いいさす] meaning: say rank: 5
☆
► 成句
言う [(2)いう] [と言うことは] [coll] meaning: mean rank: 2
☆ と言うことは試合は延期になるということですか？ ⇨ Does that mean the game will be postponed? (☛ In response to some statement. Always followed by a question to verify the original statement)
言う [(2)いう] [言う迄もない] meaning: needless to say rank: 2
☆ ～であることは言う迄もありません ⇨ It is needless to say …
☆ それは言う迄もない ⇨ That goes without saying
言う [(2)いう] [言う事を聞く] meaning: obey rank: 2
☆ うちの子供は言う事を聞かない ⇨ My kid doesn’t listen to, obey, me
☆ 車のブレーキが突然言う事を聞かなくなった ⇨ My car brakes suddenly stopped listening to me, they stopped working
言う [(2)いう] [～と言う～] meaning: all rank: 3
☆ 専門家と言う専門家全てに聞いたが、皆違う事を言う ⇨ I asked everybody who is called an expert, but they all say different things
言う [(2)いう] [と言う] meaning: approximate rank: 3
☆ 第二次大戦で何千万人と言う人が死んだ ⇨ Some ten million people died in WW2 (☛ Follows a large number for rough approximation)
言う [(2)いう] [そうは言っても] [coll] meaning: even if so rank: 3
☆ そうは言ってもこのまま何もしないわけにもいかないだろう ⇨ Even if you say so, we can’t just not do anything about it
言う [(2)いう] [言わんとする] meaning: mean rank: 3
☆ あなたが言わんとすることは分からないでもないが… ⇨ Even though I kind of understand what you’re trying to say …
言う [(2)いう] [～と言う～] meaning: very rank: 3
☆ 今度と言う今度は許さない ⇨ This time after all this time, I won’t forgive him (☛ Used for time/date word to emphasis the occasion)
☆ 今日と言う今日は決着を付けよう ⇨ Let’s settle this once and for all this very day (☛ Used for time/date word to emphasis the occasion)
言う [(2)いう] meaning: warn rank: 3
☆ だから言わんこっちゃない ⇨ That’s why I warned. I told you/him/her/them so (☛ A common phrase. An abbreviation of 言わない事ではない. )
言わずもがな [いわずもがな] meaning: obvious rank: 4
☆ それは言わずもがなだ ⇨ That goes without saying
言ってみれば [(4)いってみれば] meaning: so to speak rank: 4
☆ それは言ってみれば～のようなものだ ⇨ That is kind of like …, so to speak
言う [(2)いう] [言うなれば] [liter] meaning: so to speak rank: 4
☆ それは言うなれば～のようなものだ ⇨ That is kind of like …, so to speak
► 名詞
言い訳 [いいわけ] meaning: excuse rank: 1
☆ お前の言い訳は聞きたくない ⇨ I don’t wanna listen to your excuses
言い訳 [いいわけ] [言い訳する] meaning: excuse rank: 1
☆ ぐちゃぐちゃ言い訳するな ⇨ Stop making lame excuses
言い方 [いいかた] meaning: expression rank: 2
☆ そういう言い方をすると角が立つよ ⇨ If you use that kind of expression, that tone of speech, you will ruffle some feathers
☆ 他の言い方をすると… ⇨ If you use a different expression, put it in a different way …
☆ 内容ではなくて言い方の問題だ ⇨ It’s not the content, but the issue is how you say. It’s not what you say, but how you say it
言いなり [いいなり] [coll] meaning: obey rank: 2
☆ 彼女は親の言いなりになっている ⇨ She obeys everything her parents tell her (☛ Obey someone without ever questioning)
言い分 [いいぶん] [coll] meaning: argue rank: 3
☆ 両方の言い分を聞いてからにしよう ⇨ Let’s listen to both sides of the story first
言い争い [いいあらそい] meaning: argue rank: 3
☆ 私の両親は言い争いが絶えなかった ⇨ My parents used to quarrel all the time (☛ Argue, typically in an illogical, silly, manner)
言い掛かり [いいがかり] [言い掛かりを付ける] meaning: complain rank: 3
☆ 街でチンピラに言い掛かりを付けられた ⇨ A thug tried to pick a fight with me (☛ A criminal to pick a fight by making a false accusation)
言い逃れ [いいのがれ] meaning: excuse rank: 3
☆ 言い逃れしようとしても無駄だ ⇨ It is futile to try to talk your way out of it (☛ Lame excuses)
言い回し [いいまわし] meaning: expression rank: 3
☆ これの別の言い回しはあるかな？ ⇨ Is there another way of saying this?
言い付け [いいつけ] [coll] meaning: order rank: 3
☆ 彼は父親の言い付けを無視した ⇨ He ignored his father’s order
言い草 [いいぐさ] meaning: comment rank: 4
☆ 何て言い草だ！ ⇨ What a (rude, outrageous, etc.) thing to say!
言い様 [いいよう] meaning: expression rank: 4
☆ 物は言い様だ ⇨ Things depend on how you say them. Listeners will interpret differently depending on how you say it
言い伝え [いいつたえ] meaning: folklore rank: 4
☆ 古い言い伝え ⇨ An old folklore
言い値 [いいね] meaning: price rank: 4
☆ 売り主の言い値は百万円だ ⇨ The asking price of the seller is ¥1 million (☛ Literally “said price”)
► 形容動詞
言いなり [いいなり] [coll] meaning: obey rank: 2
☆ 彼は上司の言いなりだ ⇨ He does everything his boss tells him without questioning (☛ Obey someone without ever questioning)
► 接続詞
言う [(2)いう] [だからと言って] [coll] meaning: even if so rank: 2
☆ あいつが先に俺を侮辱したんだ。だからと言って殴っていいわけじゃないだろう ⇨ He insulted me first. Even if that’s the case you cannot just punch him