語らう|かたらうkatarau[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto talk; to tell; to recite; to pledge; to conspire with
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 語らう（かたらう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 語らいます（かたらいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 語らわない（かたらわない） |
| polite (masen) | 語らいません（かたらいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 語らわず・語らわぬ（かたらわず・かたらわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 語らった（かたらった） |
| polite (mashita) | 語らいました（かたらいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 語らわなかった（かたらわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 語らいませんでした（かたらいませんでした） |
| Te form | 語らって（かたらって） |
| Potential | 語らえる（かたらえる） |
| Passive | 語らわれる（かたらわれる） |
| Causative | 語らわせる（かたらわせる） |
| Causative passive | 語らわせられる・語らわされる（かたらわせられる・かたらわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 語らえば（かたらえば） |
| tara | 語らったら（かたらったら） |
| Volitional | 語らおう（かたらおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 語らいましょう（かたらいましょう） |
| Imperative | 語らえ（かたらえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym語り合うかたりあうNeutralTalking together and sharing thoughts; more common than 「語らう」, which has a literary feel of intimate talk and can also mean to consult or make plans together.
- Synonym談話だんわWrittenWritten/formal prose: conversation, and also an official statement, as in 「首相談話」. 「語らう」 is intimate talk or consulting.
- Synonym話すはなすNeutralThe most basic word for speaking or talking with someone. 「語らう」 suggests warm, heartfelt talk, and can also mean to consult or arrange to meet.
- Synonym談笑だんしょうWrittenWritten/formal prose: chatting with laughter, talking merrily. 「語らう」 does not put the emphasis on laughing.
- Synonym歓談かんだんWrittenWritten/formal prose: relaxed, pleasant conversation, as in 「ご歓談ください」. 「語らう」 has a more literary flavor.
- RelatedおしゃべりCasualColloquial: idle chat, and also a talkative person or chatterbox. 「語らう」 is intimate conversation or consulting together.
- Related雑談ざつだんNeutralAimless, rambling chat among several people. 「語らう」 carries a sense of closeness and rapport, and can also mean to consult.
- RelatedだべるCasualColloquial: jabbering away about nothing in particular. 「語らう」 is intimate talk, and can also mean to consult.
- Related閑談かんだんWrittenWritten/formal prose: quiet, idle chat or idle talk. 「語らう」 leans toward intimate, heart-to-heart conversation.
- Related閑話かんわWrittenWritten/formal prose: idle side talk, mostly met in the set phrase 「閑話休題」 (enough of that, back to the topic). 「語らう」 is full, heartfelt talk.
- Related雑話ざつわWrittenWritten/formal prose: casual small talk and everyday chitchat. 「語らう」 is intimate conversation.
- RelatedくっちゃべるCasualColloquial: chattering on and on. 「語らう」 carries a sense of closeness and rapport.
- Antonym黙るだまるNeutralTo stop talking and keep silent — the direct opposite of 「語らう」.
- Antonym沈黙ちんもくWrittenWritten/formal prose: silence, saying nothing — the opposite of the warm, animated talk of 「語らう」.
Use 「語らう」 for warm, intimate talk or consulting together, as in 「友と語らう」. For everyday speaking choose 「話す」, for mutual exchange 「語り合う」, for idle chat 「雑談」 or colloquial 「お喋り」, and for relaxed, pleasant occasions 「歓談」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
