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話す
hanasu
to speak
彼は英語を上手に話す。
He speaks English well.
neutral
to speak or talk in order to communicate information, ideas, or feelings
彼女は友達と楽しそうに話していた。
She was talking happily with her friends.
日本語で話すことができますか？
Can you speak Japanese?
Used for both formal and informal contexts. Often paired with に for the language (e.g. 日本語で話す 'to speak in Japanese').
neutral
to tell or narrate a story or event
彼は子供たちに昔話を話した。
He told the children a folktale.
Commonly used in storytelling contexts.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Particle usage with 話す
When specifying the language, use で (e.g. 日本語で話す 'to speak in Japanese'). To indicate the person you're speaking to, use と (e.g. 彼と話す 'to speak with him').
Gold Rule
話す vs 喋る
話す is neutral and formal, while 喋る (shaberu) is more casual and often implies chattering or chatting. 喋る is colloquial and may sound childish or overly familiar in formal contexts.
Word Origin
From Old Japanese *pana-su (to speak), combining 話 (hanashi, 'talk, story') + す (su, causative verb suffix). The kanji 話 (wú in Chinese) originally meant 'to converse' and was borrowed into Japanese during the Heian period.
Usage Notes
話す is the most neutral and common verb for speaking. It can be used for both one-sided speech and interactive conversation. For formal speeches, 演説する (ensetsu suru) or 講演する (kōen suru) are more appropriate. The particle に is often used to indicate the language (e.g. 英語で話す 'to speak in English').
Word Breakdown
話
talk, story
rootす
verb suffix indicating action
suffix和英辞典