話します（はなします、hanashimasu）
- to talk

The Japanese word 話します話します means "to speak," "to talk," or "to tell." It refers to the act of using spoken language to communicate with others. It can also imply conveying information, sharing thoughts, or having a conversation. The core meaning focuses on the action of verbal communication.

⚫︎日本語で話します。 Translation: I speak Japanese. ⚫︎友達と話します。 Translation: I talk with my friend. ⚫︎先生に質問を話します。 Translation: I tell the teacher a question (I ask the teacher a question).

⚫︎話します話します is a versatile verb used in various situations. It's used in polite or formal contexts. ⚫︎It can describe speaking a language, having a conversation, or recounting a story. ⚫︎It's common in daily conversations, formal speeches, and written text (when quoting someone speaking, for instance). ⚫︎You can use it with a direct object (the language you speak) or with the person you are speaking to (using the particle と or に).

⚫︎The word is typically written with the kanji 話, the hiragana は, な, し, ま and す. ⚫︎The reading is はなします. ⚫︎The verb 話します話します is in the polite/formal form (masu-form). The plain form is 話す話す. ⚫︎The okurigana (suffix hiragana) is standard: 話 + します.

⚫︎言う (言う) - to say, to tell ⚫︎語る (かたる) - to tell (a story), to relate ⚫︎喋る (しゃべる) - to chat, to talk (informal)

⚫︎聞く (きく) - to listen, to hear ⚫︎黙る (だまる) - to be silent

私は日本語を話します。 ・Translation: I speak Japanese. ・Explanation: This sentence directly uses 話します話します to state the ability to speak a language.

今日の出来事を話します。 ・Translation: I will talk about today's events. ・Explanation: Here, 話します話します implies sharing information or recounting an experience.

The kanji 話 itself combines the components of words and speech, reflecting the core meaning of communicating through spoken words.