Onyomi: セツ, ゼイ · Kunyomi: と.く · Meanings: explanation, opinion, rumor, theory
Kanji for explanation, opinion, rumor, theory
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説 is made from 言, meaning “words” or “to speak,” and 兌, meaning “exchange” or “open.” It shows words being exchanged clearly so others can understand. From this idea of explaining something through speech, 説 came to mean to explain, persuade, or give an explanation.
You use words to clearly explain something to others. That explanation is 説.
Think of exchanging words to make something clear. That act of explaining is 説.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 説 | せつ | theory, doctrine | common JLPT-N3 Noun, Noun, used as a suffix |
| 説明 | せつめい | explanation, exposition, description, account, caption, legend | common JLPT-N4 Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |
| 説得 | せっとく | persuasion | common JLPT-N1 Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb |
| 説く | とく | to explain, to preach, to advocate | common JLPT-N1 Godan verb with 'ku' ending, Transitive verb |
| 説教 | せっきょう | sermon, preaching, homily | common Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb, Intransitive verb |
| 説明書 | せつめいしょ | (printed) instructions, manual, explanatory leaflet (pamphlet, note), description | common Noun |
| 説得力 | せっとくりょく | persuasiveness, powers of persuasion, cogency | common Noun |
| 説明責任 | せつめいせきにん | accountability, being held accountable | Noun |
| 説き伏せる | ときふせる | to confute, to argue down, to persuade, to convince, to prevail on | Ichidan verb, Transitive verb |
| 説きつける | ときつける | to persuade | Ichidan verb, Transitive verb |