► 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
► 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
► 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
More examples:
- 口で言うだけでなく、具体的な行動を起こすべきだ ⇨ Not just say it with mouth, but you should take concrete actions
- 床板がギイギイ言う ⇨ The floorboards squeak
- 誤解を招くような紛らわしいことを言うな ⇨ Don’t say ambiguous things that invite misunderstanding
- 彼の言う事は抽象論に過ぎない ⇨ What he is saying is just an abstract theory (and have no practical substance)
- 泣き言を言うな ⇨ Don’t give me your sob stories. Don’t whine
- 白々しいお世辞を言うな ⇨ Don’t say obvious and insincere flattery
- ふざけた事言うな！ ⇨ Don’t talk nonsense! Cut your crap!
- 彼女のアルバムは皆好きだけど、強いて言うならデビュー作が一番良いと思う ⇨ I love all her albums, but if I am forced to say, if I have to choose, then I think her debut album is the best
- 彼女は陰で人の悪口を言う ⇨ She bad-mouths others behind their backs
- 私はお世辞を言うのが下手だ ⇨ I am not good at flattering someone
- 馬鹿なこと言うな！ ⇨ Don’t talk nonsense!
- 文句ばかり言うのは止めて欲しい ⇨ I want you to stop complaining all the time
- あいつの言うことは負け犬の遠吠えだ ⇨ What he’s saying is just howling of a loser dog, sour grapes
- あいつはああ言えばこう言うからうんざりする ⇨ He makes me tired because if I say this he says that, he argues about everything
- 悪い冗談を言うのは止めてもらいたい ⇨ I want you to stop saying bad jokes, nonsense