tale, talk
話 centers on spoken communication: talking and the stories or tales that come from it.
話 combines 言 (speech, words) with 舌 (tongue), suggesting speech produced by the tongue. The modern form preserves this straightforward semantic structure.
Words (言) and a tongue (舌) together make talking and telling tales: 話 is talk.
For ワ, imagine a lively talk around a warm fire: the warmth (ワーム) of the fire keeps the conversation going.
talk; speech; chat; conversation
to talk; to speak; to converse; to chat
telephone call; phone call
topic; subject
conversation; talk; chat
story; tale
telephone call; speaking over the telephone; (Internet) voice call; videoconference call
myth; mythology
care; looking after; help; assistance; aid
dialogue; conversation; talk; discussion; communication
discussion; talk; tête-à-tête; conference
English conversation
true story
children's story; fairy tale
way of talking; speaking style
to address (someone); to accost a person; to talk (to someone)
talk; conversation; dialogue
sign language
to discuss; to talk together
old tale; folk tale; legend
secret story; unknown episode
anecdote; story; episode
telephone (device)
fiction; made-up story; fable; fabrication; myth
sponsor; manager; caretaker
folk tale; folktale; folk story; folklore
(telephone) receiver
speaking voice; talking voice
talking while standing; standing around talking
spoken language; colloquial expression
friendly talk; chat
long talk
episode; side story; story within a story; aside; anecdote
to receive favor; to receive assistance; to receive help; to be looked after; to be taken care of; to become dependent (on); to become much obliged (to someone); to become indebted
busy (phone)
public telephone; pay phone
mobile phone; cell phone
to be deep in talk
telephone directory; telephone book; phone book
telephone number; phone number