音読み: シン
訓読み: もうす
画数: 5
部首: 田（た）
Meaning
Say (humble) / Declare / Report
- Basic forms
- 申す — to say (humble); to state / base form
- 申します — (I) say; (I) state (polite humble) / masu form
- 申した — said; stated (humble) / ta form
- 申して — saying; please say (humble) / te-form
- 申さない — do not say / negative form
- 申せば — if (I) say / conditional
- 申せ — say! (very formal or classical) / imperative
- Other common forms
- と申します — my name is … (humble self-intro)
- 〜と申しまして — as I said / as I explained (humble)
- 申しております — (I am) saying (continuous humble)
- More
- 申そう — let me say (humble) / 〜よう form
- 申さなかった — did not say (humble) / past negative
- 申している — is saying (humble continuous) / progressive
申す（もうす） is a **godan humble verb**, used instead of 言う when speaking politely about oneself or one’s in-group. Common in greetings and self-introductions: 「山田と申します」 = “My name is Yamada.”
- 申す — to say (humble)
- 申込み — application
- 申し訳 — apology / excuse
- 申告 — declaration (e.g., taxes)
- 申請 — application (formal request)
- 申達 — report / communication
The kanji 申 originally depicted lightning stretching down from the sky — an image of “extending.” It later came to mean “to say,” especially in humble or formal contexts. It also represents the 9th sign in the Chinese zodiac.
田中と申します。
My name is Tanaka. (humble)
申込みは 明日までです。
The application is open until tomorrow.
申告 — declaration (e.g., taxes)