Kanji 話

音読おんよみ: ワ

訓読くんよみ: はなす・はなし

画数かくすう: 13

部首ぶしゅ: 言（ごんべん）

Meaning

Talk / Speak / Conversation / Story

  • Basic forms
  • 話す — to speak / to talk / base form
  • 話します — polite / I speak / masu form
  • 話した — past / spoke / ta form
  • 話して — te-form / speak (and …) / linking or request
  • 話さない — negative / don’t speak / negative form
  • 話せば — if I speak / conditional
  • 話せ・話してみろ — speak! / try talking! / imperative
  • Other common forms
  • 話したい — want to speak / 〜たい form
  • 話せる — can speak / potential form
  • 話された — was spoken / told / passive
  • 話させる — make someone speak / causative
  • 話していた — was speaking / past progressive
  • More
  • 話そう — let’s talk / 〜よう form
  • 話している — speaking / in conversation / progressive
  • 話してあげる — speak to someone kindly / helper / benefactive
話す (はなす) is a godan (う-verb) ending with す. The final す changes to し / せ / さ depending on the form — for example, 話します, 話せる, 話さない. It’s used both for everyday speech and formal conversation.
  • 電話でんわ — telephone
  • 会話かいわ — conversation
  • 話題わだい — topic (of conversation)
  • 談話だんわ — conversation, talk
  • 実話じつわ — true story
  • 対話たいわ — dialogue, interaction
  • 話術わじゅつ — speaking skill, eloquence

話 combines 言 (speech) with 舌 (tongue) to show the act of speaking or exchanging words. It’s widely used in contexts involving verbal communication, storytelling, and conversation. Its readings are fundamental for learners.

先生の話はなしをよく聞いてください。
Please listen carefully to the teacher’s story.

母と話はなしました。
I spoke with my mother.

題
Creates
話題わだい — topic (of conversation)
◀︎ Sayings+ ▶︎