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Kun'yomi
かた.る・かた.らう
kataru / katarau

word · speech · language

wisdom

Details

Strokes14
Frequency#301
Radicalspeech(7)

Stroke Order

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Strokes14

Component Breakdown

=

left-right: speech + 吾

Cultural Context

Etymology

Composed of '言' (words) and '吾' (I). One's own words, speaking.

Symbolism

Language, story, conversation. Essence of human communication.

Related Culture & Scenes

  • Drawing a sword

Anime & Manga

物語シリーズ

Monogatari Series(2006)

anime/manga

The 'tale' in 'Monogatari.' Nisio Isin's unique dialogue drama.

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Games

テイルズシリーズ

Tales Series(1995)

全プラットフォーム

Developer: Bandai Namco

Action RPG series emphasizing 'story/narrative.'

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Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

言語道断

ごんごどうだん

outrageous; preposterous; scandalous; outrageous

千言万語

せんげんばんご

a great many words; huge number of words; a great many words

大言壮語

たいげんそうご

big talk; boasting; bragging; big talk

不言不語

ふげんふご

silence; silence

片言隻語

へんげんせきご

(not even) a few words; (not even) a few words

流言飛語

りゅうげんひご

false rumour (rumor); groundless rumour; canard; false rumour (rumor)

造言飛語

ぞうげんひご

wild rumor; wild rumour; wild rumor

狂言綺語

きょうげんきご

make-believe fiction; make-believe fiction

漫言放語

まんげんほうご

saying whatever one feels; speaking at random; making careless remarks; saying whatever one feels

一語一句

いちごいっく

every single word and phrase; each and every word; every single word and phrase

街談巷語

がいだんこうご

street gossips and idle rumors; hearsay; street gossips and idle rumors

和顔愛語

わがんあいご

with a gentle face and a nice word; with a gentle face and a nice word

甘言蜜語

かんげんみつご

honeyed words; flattery; honeyed words

甜言蜜語

てんげんみつご

honeyed words; flattery; honeyed words

Proverbs & Idioms

語るに落ちる

かたるにおちる

To let slip while talking

Accidentally revealing secrets in conversation