お話はなし

お

は

な

し

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

1

noun

story; tale

Polite noun for a story or tale, often used when speaking to or about someone of higher status, or in formal settings. The base noun is 話 (はなし).

先せん生せいが昔むかしの面おも白しろいお話はなしをしてくれた。
The teacher told us an interesting story from the past.
おばあさんから聞

き

い

た

お

話はなし

を

絵え

本ほん

に

し

まし

た

。

I made a picture book from the story I heard from my grandmother.

2

noun

talk; discussion

honorific or respectful (sonkeigo)

Honorific form of 話, used to refer politely to someone's talk, discussion, or what they have to say. Often used in business or formal conversation.

部ぶ長ちょうのお話はなしはとてもためになりました。
The department head's talk was very informative.
お話はなしの途と中ちゅうですが、少すこしよろしいでしょうか。
I'm sorry to interrupt your discussion, but may I have a moment?

Written forms

お話はなし
Standard polite spelling; the honorific prefix お is written in kana.
お話はなし
Variant with okurigana し; less common but seen in some contexts.
御お話はなし
Kanji spelling for the honorific prefix; formal or literary.
御お話はなし
Rare combination of kanji honorific prefix and okurigana.

Kanji

話tale, talk
御honorable, manipulate, govern

Similar words

話はなし
The plain, non-honorific noun meaning 'story' or 'talk'. お話 is the polite/honorific version.
物もの語がたり
A longer, more structured narrative or tale, often literary or traditional. お話 can be any story, including casual anecdotes.

Etymology

Polite form of 話 (はなし, 'story, talk') with the honorific prefix お. The prefix お is commonly added to native Japanese words to express politeness or respect.