How to say "converse" in Japanese

Choosing the right word

話すはなすJLPT N5approx.Common
godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'converse' as a verb: to talk, speak, or chat with someone. The natural choice when the meaning is simply having a conversation, as in chatting with a friend.
ジョンはお客きゃくさんと電話でんわで話はなした。↗
John talked with his customer on the phone.
逆ぎゃくJLPT N3approx.Common
na-adjective, nounCovers 'converse' as a noun or adjective: the converse of a hypothesis, i.e. the statement obtained by reversing its parts. Typical in logical discussion, where one asks whether the converse also holds.

Use 「話す」 when 'converse' is the verb meaning to talk or chat with someone; use 逆 for the noun or adjective, the converse of a hypothesis — the statement with its parts reversed.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese equivalents

話すはなすto talk
コンバースconverse
逆ぎゃくconverse (of a hypothesis, etc.)

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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