How to say "inform" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 報ずるほうずるichidan verb (-zuru), transitive verbCovers inform in its reporting sense: conveying news or information to others. Typical contexts are news reporting and the passing on of results or developments.
- 告げるつげるichidan verb, transitive verbCovers the telling and announcing side of inform: conveying something to someone, often as an announcement. Choose it when a message is being declared or imparted rather than merely passed along as a notification.
- 聞かすきかすgodan verb, transitive verbReally means to let someone hear something — telling a story or playing a piece. Its inform sense is marginal, so it is seldom the word you want for simply informing someone of a fact.
- 報じるほうじるichidan verb, transitive verbA variant of 報ずる with the same meaning: to report, to inform. It serves the same reporting sense of inform, and either form is acceptable.
- 知らせるしらせるichidan verb, transitive verbCovers inform as notifying or advising: letting someone know a fact or development. Reach for it when you simply want to inform someone of something.
Use 「知らせる」 to simply notify someone of a fact, 「告げる」 to tell or announce something to someone, 「報ずる」 or 「報じる」 to report news or information, and 「聞かす」 only for letting someone hear something.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
