How to say "telling" in Japanese

• 告げ口つげぐち
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers 'telling on someone' in the sense of tattling or snitching. It carries a disapproving nuance, so it fits contexts like a child reporting a sibling's misbehavior to a parent, not neutral communication of information.
  なぜ君きみは僕ぼくのことを先生せんせいに告げ口つげぐちしたのか言いってくれよ。↗

  Tell me why you have told on me to the teacher.
• 言上ごんじょう
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbGlossed as 'telling; stating', but this is a less common word and seldom the word you want for ordinary 'telling'; it really suits formal respectful stating of something to a superior.
• 口外こうがい
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbUsed for 'telling' when it means revealing information or a secret that was meant to be kept, as in disclosing private matters or letting out confidential news to outsiders.
  この事ことは絶対ぜったいに口外こうがいしません。↗

  I'll never tell this to anyone.
• 意味ありげいみありげ
  expression, na-adjectiveThis covers the adjective sense of 'telling', meaning significant or suggestive, as in a telling look or remark that conveys more than its surface meaning. It is not a verb for telling someone something.
• 発信はっしんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbThe common everyday choice for 'telling' in the sense of informing people or sharing one's opinions and thoughts, especially sending a message out to an audience or the public.

Most senses of 'telling' are covered by 発信 for informing or sharing; use 口外 for revealing secrets, 「告げ口」 for tattling on someone, 「意味ありげ」 for the adjective 'revealing, significant', and 言上 is rarely the right choice.

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

• 告げ口つげぐちtelling (on someone)
• 言上ごんじょうtelling
• 口外こうがいrevealing (information, a secret, etc.)
• 意味ありげいみありげmeaningful
• 発信はっしんinforming (e.g. of opinion)