What is the difference between "話します", "はなす", "話し掛ける", "代弁する"?

"話します" means "to speak, to talk (polite form)", "はなす" means "to speak, to talk", "話し掛ける" means "speak to, accost", "代弁する" means "speak for, represent".

Quadruple VS

Synonym Boundary: "話します", "はなす", "話し掛ける", "代弁する"

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

話し掛ける

はなしかける (hanashikakeru)

B2 / CEFR

Japanese Option D

代弁する

だいべんする (daibensuru)

C1 / CEFR

Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "speak" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "話します", "はなす", "話し掛ける", "代弁する" 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.
話し掛ける (はなしかける (hanashikakeru) - Level: B2): Maps to "speak to, accost" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR B2 vocabulary syllabus..
代弁する (だいべんする (daibensuru) - Level: C1): Maps to "speak for, represent" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C1 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 "話し掛ける"

私は話し掛けるに興味があります。

I am interested in speak to, accost.

Context for "代弁する"

私は代弁するに興味があります。

I am interested in speak for, represent.

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.".