Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "話す" vs "感じる"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
話す
はなす (hanasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
感じる
かんじる (kanjiru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 話す and 感じる are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
話す (はなす (hanasu)) represents "to speak, to talk" (Level: N5) and typically represents Used for verbal communication. Polite form is 話します.
On the other hand, 感じる (かんじる (kanjiru)) translates to "to feel, to sense" (Level: N4) and is used for 感情や感覚、ある印象などを心や体でとらえること。他動詞。/ To perceive emotions, sensations, or impressions with one's mind or body. Transitive verb.. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "話す"
友達と日本語を話します。
I speak Japanese with my friend.
Bilingual Sentence for "感じる"
寒さを感じます。
I feel cold.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "友達と日本語を話します。" (Meaning: "I speak Japanese with my friend.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "話す" fits here because it represents "to speak, to talk" in the context: "I speak Japanese with my friend.".