Difference Between 言う and 伝える in Japanese

The Japanese verbs 言(い)う and 伝(つた)える can both be translated as “to say” or “to tell” in English.

However, they are not exactly the same 🤔

The main difference is very simple:

🗣️ 言いう = to say something
💬 伝つたえる = to communicate / pass information to someone

Let’s look at the difference! 😊

🗣️ 言いう: To Say

言(い)う focuses on the words that someone says.

It is used when you simply want to describe what someone said.

Example

「ありがとう」と言いいました。

I said, “Thank you.”

Here, we are focusing on the actual words: ありがとう.

Another example:

先生せんせいは「宿題しゅくだいがあります」と言いいました。

The teacher said, “There is homework.”

We are simply reporting what the teacher said 📢

Pattern

「　　　」と言いう

This pattern is very common when quoting someone.

For example:

彼かれは「疲つかれた」と言いいました。

He said, “I’m tired.”

母ははは「早はやく寝ねて」と言いいました。

My mother said, “Go to bed early.”

So, when you want to talk about the words someone said, 言(い)う is usually the natural choice 👍

💬 伝つたえる: To Tell / Communicate

伝(つた)える focuses more on getting information, a message, or a feeling to another person.

The important point is not the exact words. The important point is that the information reaches someone 📩

Example

先生せんせいに予定よていを伝つたえました。

I told the teacher my schedule.

Here, you are communicating information about your schedule to the teacher.

Another example:

みんなにニュースを伝つたえました。

I told everyone the news.

The focus is on passing the information to other people.

Common Things We 伝つたえる

You can use 伝(つた)える with things such as:

❤️ 気持きもち — feelings
📰 ニュース — news
💌 メッセージ — message
📅 予定よてい — schedule / plans
ℹ️ 情報じょうほう — information
💡 理由りゆう — reason

For example:

自分じぶんの気持きもちを伝つたえました。

I told them how I felt.

大切たいせつな情報じょうほうを伝つたえました。

I communicated important information.

⚖️ 言いう vs 伝つたえる

Compare these two sentences:

田中たなかさんは「明日あしたは休やすみです」と言いいました。

Tanaka-san said, “Tomorrow is a day off.”

Here, we are focusing on what Tanaka-san said.

Now:

田中たなかさんはみんなに明日あしたは休やすみだと伝つたえました。

Tanaka-san told everyone that tomorrow was a day off.

Here, we are focusing on communicating that information to everyone.

The basic idea is:

🗣️ 言(い)う → What did someone say?

📩 伝(つた)える → What information did someone communicate?

🎉 Another Example

Imagine you want your friend to tell Yuki that the party starts at 7:00.

You could say:

ゆきさんに「パーティーは7時じからです」と言いってください。

Please say to Yuki, “The party starts at 7.”

This focuses more on the actual words.

But you could also say:

ゆきさんにパーティーは7時じからだと伝つたえてください。

Please tell Yuki that the party starts at 7.

This focuses on making sure Yuki receives the information 📩

In this situation, 伝(つた)えてください sounds very natural because you are asking someone to pass on a message.

🙌 A Very Common Expression

You may also hear:

よろしくお伝つたえください。

Please give them my regards.

This expression uses 伝(つた)える because you are asking someone to pass your message or feelings to another person.

For example:

田中たなかさんによろしくお伝つたえください。

Please give Tanaka-san my regards.

🤔 Can You Use Both?

Sometimes both 言(い)う and 伝(つた)える are grammatically possible, but the nuance changes.

For example:

彼かれに好すきだと言いいました。

I said to him, “I like you.”

This focuses on the fact that you said the words.

彼かれに好すきだと伝つたえました。

I told him that I liked him.

This has a stronger feeling of communicating your feelings to him ❤️

So when talking about feelings, 伝(つた)える often sounds more intentional.

📊 Quick Comparison

言(い)う	伝(つた)える
🗣️ to say	💬 to tell / communicate
Focuses on words	Focuses on information or a message
What did someone say?	What did someone communicate?
Often used with quotes	Often used with a person receiving information
「ありがとう」と言(い)う	気持(きも)ちを伝(つた)える

🧠 Easy Way to Remember

Think of it like this:

🗣️ 言(い)う = words come out of your mouth

📩 伝(つた)える = a message reaches another person

For example:

「ありがとう」と言いう。

Say “thank you.”

感謝かんしゃの気持きもちを伝つたえる。

Express your feelings of gratitude.

Both involve communication, but the focus is different ✨

✅ Summary

言(い)う means “to say” and focuses on the words someone says.

伝(つた)える means “to tell,” “communicate,” or “convey” and focuses on passing information, a message, or feelings to another person.

Compare:

「また明日あした」と言いいました。

I said, “See you tomorrow.”

明日あしたの予定よていを伝つたえました。

I told them tomorrow’s schedule.

If you remember 言(い)う = words 🗣️ and 伝(つた)える = message 📩, choosing between them will become much easier! 😊