Meaning
The kanji 話 (はなし, はなす, ワ) means “to talk,” “to speak,” “a story,” or “conversation.” It perfectly captures the essence of human communication through spoken words.
Its origin lies in a fascinating combination of two components: 言 (ごん, げん), which signifies “speech” or “words,” and 舌 (した), meaning “tongue.” This structure forms a phonosemantic compound. Here, 言 acts as the primary semantic component related to verbal communication. While 舌 also played a phonetic role in ancient Chinese, it strongly reinforces the idea of articulation—the physical act of speaking with the tongue. Together, these elements visually and conceptually create a character that represents the act of producing and exchanging words.
The left radical, 言 (ことば, “word” or “speech”), clearly points to the character's core meaning of communication. The right component, often linked to 舌 (tongue), visually emphasizes using the tongue to articulate words. This makes the entire character a comprehensive representation of spoken communication. It describes not just the utterance of sounds, but the structured delivery of ideas, narratives, and discussions.
This kanji has 13 strokes. It's taught in the 2nd grade in Japanese elementary schools, making it crucial for basic literacy. It’s also an N5 level kanji under the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) system, highlighting its foundational importance for Japanese learners.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The On'yomi reading for 話 is ワ. This reading comes from the original Chinese pronunciation. You'll typically find it when 話 is part of a compound word with other kanji, especially in more formal or abstract contexts of communication.
会話 (kaiwa) — This word means “conversation” or “dialogue.” It combines 会 (かい, meaning “to meet” or “to gather”) with 話 (わ), highlighting a two-way exchange of words. For example, 友達と楽しい会話をした (tomodachi to tanoshii kaiwa o shita) means “I had a fun conversation with my friend.”
電話 (denwa) — Meaning “telephone,” this compound pairs 電 (でん, meaning “electricity”) with 話 (わ), literally an “electric talk.” It refers to both the device and the act of telephoning. For instance, 母に電話をかけた (haha ni denwa o kaketa) translates to “I called my mother.”
話題 (wadai) — This term refers to a “topic” or “subject of conversation.” It combines 話 (わ) with 題 (だい, meaning “title” or “theme”). Use it to describe what people are talking about. For example, 今日の話題は何ですか (kyou no wadai wa nan desu ka) means “What is today's topic of conversation?”
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi readings for 話 are はな(す) and はなし. These are native Japanese pronunciations. They're used when the kanji appears alone or is combined with hiragana to form verbs or nouns, often in everyday situations.
話す (hanasu) — This verb means “to talk,” “to speak,” or “to tell.” It’s a fundamental verb for expressing verbal communication. For example, 友達と話す (tomodachi to hanasu) means “to talk with a friend.” Another common example: 彼は英語を話すことができます (kare wa eigo o hanasu koto ga dekimasu), meaning “He can speak English.”
話し込む (hanashikomu) — This means “to get engrossed in talking” or “to have a long talk.” The verb highlights a deep or extended conversation. For instance, 彼女と長い時間話し込んだ (kanojo to nagai jikan hanashikonda) means “I talked with her for a long time.”
話 (hanashi) — This noun means “a story,” “a talk,” “a discussion,” or even “a rumor.” It refers to the content or the act of a narrative. For example, 面白い話を聞いた (omoshiroi hanashi o kiita) means “I heard an interesting story.”
昔話 (mukashibanashi) — This compound noun refers to “old tales” or “folklore.” It combines 昔 (むかし, meaning “old times”) with 話 (はなし). For instance, 日本にはたくさんの美しい昔話があります (Nihon ni wa takusan no utsukushii mukashibanashi ga arimasu) means “There are many beautiful old tales in Japan.”
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 話 appears in many Japanese words, showing its central role in communication. Here are some common examples, grouped for easier understanding:
Communication and Dialogue
会話 (kaiwa) — conversation, dialogue. This is a very common term for general verbal exchange.
話し合い (hanashiai) — discussion, conference. This implies a more structured or purposeful exchange of ideas.
話し相手 (hanashiaite) — conversational partner. Someone you talk with regularly or casually.
対話 (taiwa) — dialogue, interaction. Often used in more formal contexts, such as political dialogue.
談話 (danwa) — discourse, informal talk. This can refer to a relaxed conversation or an official statement.
Stories and Topics
話 (hanashi) — a story, tale, discussion. This is the base noun for narratives.
昔話 (mukashibanashi) — old tale, folklore, legend. Specifically refers to traditional stories.
作り話 (tsukuribanashi) — made-up story, fiction. A fabricated narrative.
話題 (wadai) — topic of conversation, subject. This refers to what people are discussing.
話の種 (hanashi no tane) — topic of conversation, talking point. Literally translates to “seed of a story.”
実話 (jitsuwa) — true story. A factual narrative.
神話 (shinwa) — myth, mythology. Sacred narratives, often ancient.
童話 (douwa) — fairy tale, children's story. Stories intended for children.
Other Related Terms
電話 (denwa) — telephone. An essential device for long-distance communication.
手話 (shuwa) — sign language. Communication through gestures.
話し言葉 (hanashikotoba) — spoken language. This refers to the language as it is actually spoken, as opposed to its written form.
世話 (sewa) — care, looking after, help. While not directly about speaking, this word often involves communicating with someone about their needs or well-being.
Example Sentences
先生は毎日、生徒と話します。
Sensei wa mainichi, seito to hanashimasu.
The teacher talks with students every day.
昨日、友達と長い時間話しました。
Kinou, tomodachi to nagai jikan hanashimashita.
Yesterday, I talked with my friend for a long time.
この話はとても面白いです。
Kono hanashi wa totemo omoshiroi desu.
This story is very interesting.
日本の昔話を読むのが好きです。
Nihon no mukashibanashi o yomu no ga suki desu.
I like reading Japanese folk tales.
電話で話すのは便利です。
Denwa de hanasu no wa benri desu.
Talking on the phone is convenient.
彼と重要な話し合いをしました。
Kare to juuyou na hanashiai o shimashita.
I had an important discussion with him.
私たちの会話はいつも楽しいです。
Watashitachi no kaiwa wa itsumo tanoshii desu.
Our conversations are always fun.
この番組の話題はとても興味深い。
Kono bangumi no wadai wa totemo kyoumibukai.
This program's topic is very interesting.
私は彼に秘密の話をしました。
Watashi wa kare ni himitsu no hanashi o shimashita.
I told him a secret story.
先生は学生に将来の夢について話しました。
Sensei wa gakusei ni shourai no yume ni tsuite hanashimashita.
The teacher spoke to the students about their future dreams.
Related Kanji
- 気 — Spirit, Energy, Air (Kanji N5)
- 百 — Hundred (Kanji N5)
- 土 — Earth, Soil, Ground (Kanji N5)
- 人 — Person (Kanji N5)
- 大 — Big, Large (Kanji N5)
- 間 — Interval, Space, Between (Kanji N5)
Memory Tip
To remember 話, picture the left side, 言, as a mouth speaking words. On the right, imagine a tongue (舌, which is part of the right component) actively moving to form those words. So, the kanji literally depicts “words made with a tongue.” Visualize someone holding a conversation, with words (言) coming from their mouth and tongue (related to 舌) forming the sounds. This vivid image of articulated speech helps you recall the meanings of “talk,” “speak,” and “story.”