Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "言います" vs "泣きます"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
言います
いいます (iimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
泣きます
なきます (nakimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 言います and 泣きます are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
言います (いいます (iimasu)) represents "to say, to tell" (Level: N5) and typically represents Polite form of 言う.
On the other hand, 泣きます (なきます (nakimasu)) translates to "to cry" (Level: N5) and is used for Verb, polite form. Refers to the act of shedding tears due to sadness, pain, or other emotions. The dictionary form is 泣く. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "言います"
先生にありがとうと言います。
I say thank you to the teacher.
Bilingual Sentence for "泣きます"
子供が転んで泣きました。
The child fell and cried.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "先生にありがとうと ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "I say thank you to the teacher.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "言います" fits here because it represents "to say, to tell" in the context: "I say thank you to the teacher.".