Word
発言
Meaning in Englishutterance, speech, proposal
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
Related sentences
Word context
What it means
発言 means a spoken utterance or statement by someone; a remark expressed aloud in conversation, debate, or official contexts, focusing on what was said rather than how it was said.
Main meanings
- the content of a spoken remark, often quoted or cited in discussion
- an act of speaking in formal or public settings, such as meetings or press events
- in political or media discourse, 発言 is used to reference a person’s words or stance, or to discuss retracting a remark
How to use it
Used as a neutral or formal noun in journalism, politics, business, and academic writing to refer to what someone has said; common with phrases like 発言をする, 発言内容, 発言を撤回する; casual conversation may prefer more informal terms.
Variants and close terms
- 言明 (genmei) — formal statement
- 発語 (hatsugo) — the act of uttering words
- 沈黙 (chinmoku) — silence, the opposite concept
Composition
- 発: to emit, to start, to release; a trigger of action
- 言: word, speech; the thing spoken
Etymology
発 (hatsu) + 言 (gen) form the compound; this noun uses on'yomi readings for both kanji and conveys the idea of emitting words as speech.
Word class
noun (名詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N1
宣言
sengen
declaration, proclamation, announcement
N1
断言
dangen
assertion, declaration, affirmation
N1
発育
hatsuiku
(physical) growth, development
N1
発芽
hatsuga
germination
N1
発掘
hakkutsu
excavation, exhumation; discovery (e.g., new talent)
N1
発生
hassei
outbreak, spring forth, occurrence
N1
始発
shihatsu
first train
N1
発作
hossa
fit, attack
N1
発足
hossoku
starting, inauguration
Kanji