What is the difference between "話します", "はなす", "発言する", "話しかける", "舌端火を吐く"?

"話します" means "to speak, to talk (polite form)", "はなす" means "to speak, to talk", "発言する" means "to speak; to make a statement; to comment", "話しかける" means "to speak to, to address (someone)", "舌端火を吐く" means "to speak with fiery eloquence".

Quintuple VS

Synonym Boundary: "話します", "はなす", "発言する", "話しかける", "舌端火を吐く"

All represent the core concept "speak", but require precise selection.

Japanese Option A

話します

はなします (hanashimasu)

N5 / CEFR

Japanese Option B

はなす

はなす (hanasu)

N5 / CEFR

Japanese Option C

発言する

はつげんする (hatsugen suru)

N3 / CEFR

Japanese Option D

話しかける

はなしかける (hanashikakeru)

N3 / CEFR

Japanese Option E

舌端火を吐く

ぜったんひをはく (zettanhiwohaku)

C2 / CEFR

Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "speak" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "話します", "はなす", "発言する", "話しかける", "舌端火を吐く" based on context.

話します (はなします (hanashimasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to speak, to talk (polite form)" and is used when Polite form of 話す.
はなす (はなす (hanasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to speak, to talk" and is used when Used for general conversation. The polite form is 話します.
発言する (はつげんする (hatsugen suru) - Level: N3): Maps to "to speak; to make a statement; to comment" and is used when Refers to making a statement or expressing an opinion, especially in a formal setting like a meeting, debate, or public forum. It implies a deliberate act of speaking..
話しかける (はなしかける (hanashikakeru) - Level: N3): Maps to "to speak to, to address (someone)" and is used when 人に向かって会話を始める、声をかけるという意味合いが強いです。相手に何かを伝えようとするときに使います。.
舌端火を吐く (ぜったんひをはく (zettanhiwohaku) - Level: C2): Maps to "to speak with fiery eloquence" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C2 vocabulary syllabus..

Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!

Context for "話します"

友達と話します。

I talk with my friends.

Context for "はなす"

日本語を話しますか？

Do you speak Japanese?

Context for "発言する"

会議で自分の意見を発言した。

I expressed my opinion at the meeting.

Context for "話しかける"

知らない人に話しかけるのは、少し勇気がいります。

It takes a little courage to speak to a stranger.

Context for "舌端火を吐く"

毎日、日本語を練習するために舌端火を吐く。

Every day, I speak with fiery eloquence to practice Japanese.

Synonym Mastery Challenge

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" is correct here because it represents "to speak, to talk (polite form)" in the context: "I talk with my friends.".