Translation guide
The English verb "tell" has many distinct uses. This guide organizes them by meaning, from most common to niche, with natural Japanese equivalents.
To give information to someone, often with a direct or indirect object.
General verb for conveying information. Can be used in many contexts.
彼にそのニュースを伝えた。
I told him the news.
To let someone know, to inform. Often used for practical information.
変更があれば知らせてください。
Please tell me if there are any changes.
To say, to tell. Very common, but can be ambiguous without context. Often used with ～と.
彼は私に「ありがとう」と言った。
He told me "thank you."
To tell, to teach, to inform. Implies the listener didn't know the information.
道を教えてくれませんか？
Could you tell me the way?
To tell a story, joke, or anecdote.
To talk, to tell (a story). The most common verb for narrating.
彼は面白い話を話した。
He told an interesting story.
To tell, to narrate, to recount. More literary or formal than 話す.
To tell a tale (literally "let someone hear a story"). Used for storytelling, especially to children.
祖母はよく物語を聞かせてくれた。
My grandmother often told me stories.
To tell someone to do something, to give an order.
To tell someone to do something. The pattern is [verb dictionary form / negative form] + ように言う.
彼に早く来るように言った。
I told him to come quickly.
子供たちに触らないように言ってください。
Please tell the children not to touch it.
To order, to command. Stronger and more formal than 言う.
To instruct, to direct. Often used in work or official contexts.
マニュアルに従うように指示された。
I was told to follow the manual.
To tell the difference, to distinguish between things.
To be able to tell the difference. Often used in the potential form.
この双子は区別がつかない。
I can't tell these twins apart.
To distinguish by looking, to tell apart visually.
本物と偽物を見分けるのは難しい。
It's hard to tell the real thing from the fake.
To judge, to discriminate. More formal, often used in technical contexts.
この装置は色を判別できる。
This device can tell colors apart.
To tell a secret, to reveal confidential information.
To leak, to let out (a secret). Often used with 秘密を.
彼は秘密を漏らしてしまった。
He told the secret (by accident).
To reveal, to disclose (a secret). Casual.
To expose, to disclose. Often used for scandals or hidden truths.
彼は不正を暴露した。
He told about the corruption.
To tell something through signs, expressions, or evidence.
To show, to indicate. Used for evidence, data, or expressions.
彼の表情が怒りを示していた。
His expression told of his anger.
To tell a story, to indicate clearly. Often used for evidence or circumstances.
To have a noticeable effect, often negative (e.g., "the stress began to tell on him").
To have an effect, to show an influence. General phrase.
過労が彼の健康に影響が出始めた。
Overwork began to tell on his health.
To take a toll on, to affect severely. Often used for physical or mental strain.
徹夜が体にこたえた。
The all-nighter told on my body.
While 言う is a common translation, it often sounds unnatural or ambiguous. Use more specific verbs like 伝える, 話す, or 教える depending on the context.
彼に電話番号を教えた。
I told him my phone number.
伝える is general for conveying any information. 知らせる implies the listener didn't know and needs to be informed, often for practical matters.
This is the most natural way to express "tell someone to do something." The verb before ように should be in the dictionary form or negative form.
静かにするように言った。
I told them to be quiet.
彼に待つように言った。
I told him to wait.
She told about her experience.
上司は彼に残業を命じた。
The boss told him to work overtime.
Who told the secret?
この傷が事故の激しさを物語っている。
These scars tell of the severity of the accident.