How to say "speaking" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 発声はっせいnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers speaking as the physical act of uttering or vocalizing sounds aloud. The natural choice when the focus is on producing voice rather than on language skill or conversation.
- nounA less common word glossed as saying or speaking. It is seldom the word you want for ordinary uses of 'speaking'; learners should generally reach for another term.
- nounA loanword for speaking, generally in the context of learning English, as in speaking practice or a speaking test. Use it when discussing the spoken-skill side of language study.
- noun, suru verbA loanword matching speak and speaking. It is less common and largely marginal as a noun for 'speaking'; it usually appears as the verb rather than a standalone term.
Use 発声 for the act of producing voice, 「スピーキング」 for speaking as an English-learning skill, and treat 「セイ」 and 「スピーク」 as rare, marginal options that seldom fit.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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