noun

  1. language, dialect.
  2. word, phrase, expression, term.
  3. speech, (manner of) speaking, (use of) language.
  4. words, remark, statement, comment.
  5. learning to speak, language acquisition.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
言葉 ことば
けとば
言葉
言葉 けとば
ことば
ことば

Contained Kanji Breakdown

say, word
い.う こと ゲン (2nd, N4)
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ いっ ひと- (1st, N5)
mouth
くち コウ ク (1st, N4)
leaf, plane, lobe
は ヨウ よ (3rd, N3)
grass, grass radical (no. 140)
table, flat pieces of wood, slip
ヨウ うすいきふだ まど
generation, world, society
セ よ セイ (3rd, N4)
twenty
にじゅう ジュウ ニュウ (Kentei Pre-1)
fishhook radical(乙) variant
tree, wood
き モク こ- (1st, N5)