How to say "recite" in Japanese

• 唱えるとなえるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers the sense of reciting or chanting something aloud, such as a name, prayer, or chant. This is the typical choice when the emphasis is on voicing words in a rhythmic, ritual-like way.
• 語らうかたらうCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbIts core senses are talking, telling, and pledging; 'recite' is only a marginal gloss. It is seldom the word you want for reciting — think of it as conversing or relating something rather than performing a text aloud.
  私わたしたちは、一杯いっぱいのコーヒーを飲のみながら、楽たのしく語かたらった。↗

  We talked cheerfully over a cup of coffee.
• 読むよむJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbUsed for reciting a sutra or similar religious text aloud, i.e. chanting scripture. In this religious sense it overlaps with 唱える, but it is not the general word for reciting arbitrary material.
• 語るかたるJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers reciting or chanting, with a strong association with narrative and verse — relating a story or epic aloud. Choose it when the recitation tells or performs a tale in poetic form.
• 歌ううたうJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers reciting a poem, especially in the older sense of singing of love, beauty, and the like in verse. Best when the recitation is poetic and expressive rather than plain reading aloud.

For chanting scripture or reciting aloud use 「唱える」 or 「読む」; for reciting or chanting poems use 「歌う」 or 「語る」; 「語らう」 mainly means to talk or tell, so it rarely covers 'recite'.

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

• 唱えるとなえるto recite
• 語らうかたらうto talk
• 誦するしょうするto recite
• 誦すじゅすto recite
• 吟ずるぎんずるto chant
• 吟じるぎんじるto chant
• 読むよむto recite (e.g. a sutra)
• 語るかたるto recite
• 歌ううたうto sing of (love, beauty, etc.) in a poem
• 詠むよむto recite (e.g. a poem)
• うそぶくto recite (a song or poem to oneself)
• 詠ずるえいずるto recite
• 詠じるえいじるto recite