話 talk

Also: story

On'yomi: ワ
Kun'yomi: はな-す、はなし
Strokes: 13
JLPT: N5
Taught in: Primary school, year 2

In the kun'yomi, the kana after a dash are written after the kanji (okurigana): はな-す.

Stroke order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

話 is written in 13 strokes. Each panel adds the next one; the dot marks where the brush starts.

Remember it

Words rolling off a wagging tongue — that's how you talk, and how a story gets told.

A common word

電話でんわ telephone

Example sentences

友だちと電話で話しました。
ともだちとでんわではなしました。
I talked with my friend on the phone.
先生の話は長かったです。
せんせいのはなしはながかったです。
The teacher's talk was long.

Kanji that share a part

言 is its radical. 73 kanji share it in all.

舌 is a component.

活 lively N3
辞 resign N3
乱 riot N2
括 include N1
憩 rest N1