伝言（でんごん、dengoん）
- message

The Japanese word 伝言 (でんごん, dengon) means "message," "verbal message," "a message to be delivered," or "a note". It refers to a piece of information or a communication that is passed from one person to another, typically through a third party. It can also imply the act of conveying a message. This message can be a brief note, a spoken instruction, or any form of information.

⚫︎電話で伝言をお願いします。 Translation: Please leave a message on the phone. ⚫︎友達に伝言を頼んだ。 Translation: I asked my friend to deliver the message. ⚫︎伝言ゲームで面白い結果になった。 Translation: The telephone game (Chinese whispers) led to an interesting outcome.

伝言 is used when you need to convey information from one person to another, either in a written or spoken form. It's especially common when the intended recipient isn't available directly. ⚫︎It can be used in various situations, such as: ⚫︎Leaving a message for someone. ⚫︎Asking someone to deliver a message. ⚫︎Referring to the act of delivering a message. ⚫︎Writing a message. ⚫︎Taking a message. You can use it in formal and informal contexts.

⚫︎伝言 is primarily written with the kanji 伝 (den, to convey/transmit) and 言 (gen, kotoba, word/saying). ⚫︎The reading is usually でんごん (でんごん, dengon) in hiragana. ⚫︎There are no significant variations in okurigana.

⚫︎メッセージ (messēji) - message (borrowed word from English) ⚫︎お知らせ (oshirase) - notification, announcement ⚫︎連絡 (renraku) - contact, communication ⚫︎口頭伝達 (koutou dentatsu) - oral message (formal) ⚫︎言伝 (kotozute) - old word for message

There aren't direct antonyms for 伝言, as it is a term that describes the act of relaying information. However, words that imply keeping something secret could be seen as opposites in a sense. ⚫︎秘密 (himitsu) - secret ⚫︎内緒 (naisho) - secret, confidential

田中さんに、今日の会議は中止になったという伝言をしてください。 ・Translation: Please give Mr. Tanaka the message that today's meeting has been cancelled. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the use of 伝言 to instruct someone to deliver specific information to another person.

彼女は私に、彼に伝言を頼んだ。 ・Translation: She asked me to give him a message. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates 伝言 used in the context of requesting someone to pass a message.

The word 伝言 is composed of two kanji: 伝 (den), meaning "to convey" or "to transmit," and 言 (gen or kotoba), meaning "word" or "saying." The combination of these kanji directly reflects the meaning of the word—to transmit or convey a word or message.