How to say “language” or “word” in Japanese | 言葉 (ことば、kotoba)

The Japanese vocabulary「言葉 (ことば、kotoba)」means “language” or “word.” Please learn the pronunciation and the example sentences.

Japanese Vocabulary and the Meaning

Key Word	言葉
Hiragana	ことば
Romaji Reading	kotoba
English Meaning	language, word

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The Correct Japanese Pronunciations

Please learn the pronunciation by watching the attached video. You can also learn example sentences.

The Example Japanese Sentences

It is important to have skills in both non-honorific and honorific languages in order to use Japanese correctly.

Japanese Sentence	日本にほんの言葉ことばは分わからない。
Romaji Reading	Nihon no kotoba wa wakaranai.
English Meaning	I don’t know the Japanese language. (Plain Form)

Japanese Sentence	日本の言葉は分かりません。
Romaji Reading	Nihon no kotoba wa wakarimasen.
English Meaning	I don’t know the Japanese language. (Polite Form)

Japanese Sentence	私わたしの好すきな言こと葉ばは、「ありがとう」だ。
Romaji Reading	Watashi no suki na kotoba wa, “arigatō” da.
English Meaning	My favorite phrase is “Thank you.” (Plain Form)

Japanese Sentence	私の好きな言葉は、「ありがとう」です。
Romaji Reading	Watashi no suki na kotoba wa, “arigatō” desu.
English Meaning	My favorite phrase is “Thank you.” (Polite Form)

Japanese Sentence	仕し事ごとの面接めんせつで、緊張きんちょうしすぎて言こと葉ばが出でなかった。
Romaji Reading	Shigoto no mensetsu de, kinchō shisugite kotoba ga denakatta.
English Meaning	During a job interview, I was so nervous that I couldn’t speak. (Plain Form)

Japanese Sentence	仕事の面接で、緊張しすぎて言葉が出ませんでした。
Romaji Reading	Shigoto no mensetsu de, kinchō de kotoba ga demasen deshita.
English Meaning	During a job interview, I was so nervous that I couldn’t speak. (Polite Form)

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