語 — Kanji Reference
語 (language, word): 14 strokes, JLPT N5. On: ゴ. Kun: かた-る、かた-らう.
語
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Meaning | language, word |
| Strokes | 14 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
| On-reading (音読み) | ゴ |
| Kun-reading (訓読み) | かた-る、かた-らう |
| Radical | 言 (speech/word) [U+8A00] |
Stroke Order
The kanji 語 is written by first completing the left radical (言) and then the right component (吾). Follow standard rules: top-to-bottom, left-to-right.
- Left side (言): Horizontal line (1) → short horizontal (2) → short horizontal (3) → long horizontal (4) → vertical hook (5).
- Right side (吾): Horizontal (6) → vertical (7) → vertical (8) → horizontal (9) → horizontal (10) → vertical (11) → horizontal (12) → vertical (13) → horizontal (14).
Radical Analysis
The kanji 語 is a phono-semantic compound:
- Radical: 言 (speech/word). This indicates that the kanji relates to communication, language, or speaking.
- Component: 吾 (I/me). In this context, it acts as a phonetic indicator (providing the go sound) while also suggesting the idea of "my words" or "the words I speak."
Mnemonic
Imagine a person standing and speaking (言) about themselves (吾). When you speak about yourself, you are using language (語) to tell your story.
On-readings (音読み) with Examples
ゴ (Go)
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 日本語 | にほんご | Nihongo | Japanese language |
| 英語 | えいご | Eigo | English language |
| 単語 | たんご | Tango | Vocabulary/word |
| 物語 | ものがたり | Monogatari | Tale/story |
Kun-readings (訓読み) with Examples
かた-る (Kataru)
To tell, to narrate, to talk about.
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 語る | かたる | Kataru | To tell/narrate |
| 昔語り | むかしがたり | Mukashigatari | Telling old stories |
かた-らう (Katarau)
To talk together, to converse, to conspire.
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 語らう | かたらう | Katarau | To talk together |
JLPT N5 Words Using 語
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English | JLPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 日本語 | にほんご | Nihongo | Japanese language | N5 |
| 英語 | えいご | Eigo | English language | N5 |
| 単語 | たんご | Tango | Vocabulary/word | N4 |
| 言語 | げんご | Gengo | Language | N3 |
| 物語 | ものがたり | Monogatari | Story | N3 |
| 語学 | ごがく | Gogaku | Language study | N3 |
| 敬語 | けいご | Keigo | Honorifics | N3 |
| 熟語 | じゅくご | Jukugo | Idiom/compound word | N3 |
Example Sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 日本語を勉強しています。 | にほんごをべんきょうしています。 | Nihongo o benkyō shite imasu. | I am studying Japanese. |
| 彼は面白い物語を語った。 | かれはおもしろいものがたりをかたった。 | Kare wa omoshiroi monogatari o katatta. | He told an interesting story. |
| 英語の単語を覚える。 | えいごのたんごをおぼえる。 | Eigo no tango o oboeru. | I memorize English words. |
| 二人で将来を語り合った。 | ふたりでしょうらいをかたりあった。 | Futari de shōrai o katariatta. | The two of us talked about our future together. |
| 敬語は難しいです。 | けいごはむずかしいです。 | Keigo wa muzukashii desu. | Honorifics are difficult. |
| 彼は多言語を話せる。 | かれはたげんごをはなせる。 | Kare wa tagengo o hanaseru. | He can speak multiple languages. |
Common Confusion Pairs
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning | How to distinguish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 語 | ゴ | Language | Has the 言 (speech) radical. |
| 吾 | ゴ | I/Me | Lacks the 言 radical; used mostly in names or archaic "I". |
| 悟 | ゴ | Enlightenment | Has the 忄 (heart) radical; relates to mental realization. |
Usage Frequency Note
語 is one of the most frequently used kanji in the Japanese language. It appears daily in newspapers, academic settings, and casual conversation. Because it is the primary character used to denote "language" (e.g., Nihongo, Eigo), it is one of the first kanji learners encounter and is essential for daily communication.