How to say "imply" in Japanese

• ほのめかすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbThe usual choice for 'imply': to hint at, intimate, suggest or allude to something without saying it outright. Typically written in kana alone; fits when a speaker or writer conveys something indirectly.
  講演こうえん者しゃは政界せいかいの腐敗ふはいをほのめかした。↗

  The speaker hinted at corruption in the political world.
• 言外にほのめかすげんがいにほのめかす
  expression, godan verbBuilt on ほのめかす plus 言外に ('beyond the words'), it stresses that the meaning lies outside what is stated. Less common; suits something implied between the lines rather than said.
• 寓するぐうする
  suru verb (irregular), transitive verbA less common word meaning simply 'to imply': to make an expression carry an unstated, underlying meaning. Seldom the word you want for everyday hinting; ほのめかす is the safer choice there.
• ちらつかせる
  ichidan verb, transitive verbSeldom the word you want for plain 'imply': it really means to dangle or hold something out, letting an offer or the like surface indirectly, rather than to imply a meaning.

For the ordinary sense of 'imply' — hinting at something indirectly — 「ほのめかす」 is the usual choice; 「言外にほのめかす」 stresses meaning beyond the words, 「寓する」 is a less common option, and 「ちらつかせる」 is really about dangling an offer.

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

• ほのめかすto hint at
• 言外にほのめかすげんがいにほのめかすto hint at
• 寓するぐうするto imply
• ちらつかせるto dangle (an offer) in front of
• 含むふくむto express (emotion, etc.)