Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "話します" vs "案内する"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
話します
はなします (hanashimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
案内する
あんないする (annai suru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 話します and 案内する are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
話します (はなします (hanashimasu)) represents "to speak, to talk (polite form)" (Level: N5) and typically represents Polite form of 話す.
On the other hand, 案内する (あんないする (annai suru)) translates to "to guide, to show around" (Level: N4) and is used for A する-verb. Used when showing someone the way or giving a tour.. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "話します"
友達と話します。
I talk with my friends.
Bilingual Sentence for "案内する"
私が東京の観光地を案内します。
I will show you around the tourist spots in Tokyo.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "友達と ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "I talk with my friends.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "話します" fits here because it represents "to speak, to talk (polite form)" in the context: "I talk with my friends.".