話
tale · talk
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of '言' (words) and '舌' (tongue). Using tongue to speak words.
Symbolism
Conversation, story, communication. Foundation of human relationships.
Component Breakdown
left-right: speech + 舌
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
閑話休題
かんわきゅうだい
getting back to the subject at hand, ...; (but) to return to the main topic, ...; so much for digressions, ...
炉辺談話
ろへんだんわ
fireside chat
俗談平話
ぞくだんへいわ
conversation on worldly affairs; chat about everyday life (business)
Anime & Manga
化物語
Bakemonogatari
Dialogue drama 'talking' with aberrations.
四畳半神話大系
The Tatami Galaxy
A well-known work with 話 in its Japanese title.
先輩がうざい後輩の話
My Senpai is Annoying
A well-known work with 話 in its Japanese title.
世話やきキツネの仙狐さん
The Helpful Fox Senko-san
A well-known work with 話 in its Japanese title.
経験済みなキミと、経験ゼロなオレが、お付き合いする話。
Our Dating Story: The Experienced You and The Inexperienced Me
A well-known work with 話 in its Japanese title.
Games
テイルズシリーズ
Tales Series(1995)
Developer: Bandai Namco
RPG series 'telling' tales.
View on Amazon →Other kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 話 mean in Japanese?
話 means tale, talk.
How do you read 話?
On'yomi: ワ (WA). Kun'yomi: はな.す、はなし (hanasu, hanashi).
How many strokes does 話 have?
話 has 13 strokes. Its radical is 言 (speech).
Is 話 a good kanji for a tattoo?
話 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means tale, talk. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:talk