Say, talk, ask
Speech-act verbs: say, talk, ask or listen, tell, ask a favour.
iu
polite iimasusay; call (something)
言う いう 言います
Reporting words with tte or to (nante itta?), naming things (X tte iu), and sou iu / kou iu for 'that kind of'.
ima nante itta?
What did you just say?
今なんて言った？
ima nante iimashita ka?
What did you just say?
今なんて言いましたか？
Pronounced yuu; itta / itte sound the same as iku's, but casual speech often says yutta / yutte, which keeps them apart.
Learn first: -tte
hanasu
polite hanashimasuspeak; talk; tell
話す はなす 話します
Talking with someone (X to hanasu), telling about something, and speaking a language (nihongo hanaseru?).
ato de hanasu ne.
I'll tell you about it later.
後で話すね。
ato de hanashimasu ne.
I'll tell you about it later.
後で話しますね。
Quoting someone's exact words is iu, not hanasu.
kiku
polite kikimasulisten; hear; ask
聞く きく 聞きます
Listening (kiite), hearing news (kiita?) and asking someone a question, with the person asked marked by ni.
tomodachi ni kiite mita.
I asked a friend.
友達に聞いてみた。
tomodachi ni kiite mimashita.
I asked a friend.
友達に聞いてみました。
Bare tomodachi ni kiita usually means 'I heard it from a friend'; kiite mita makes it 'I asked'.
oshieru
polite oshiemasutell; teach; show how
教える おしえる 教えます
Giving someone information or know-how, where oshiete is the everyday 'tell me' for numbers, directions and tips.
denwa bangou oshiete.
Can I get your number?
電話番号教えて。
denwa bangou o oshiete kudasai.
Could you give me your phone number?
電話番号を教えてください。
Not just 'teach': michi oshiete = 'tell me the way'.
Learn first: -te
tanomu
polite tanomimasuask a favour; order
頼む たのむ 頼みます
Asking someone to do something (X ni tanomu) and ordering food or a delivery (nani tanomu?).
tomodachi ni tanonda.
I asked a friend to do it.
友達に頼んだ。
tomodachi ni tanomimashita.
I asked a friend to do it.
友達に頼みました。
A direct tanomu (yo)! = 'I'm counting on you' leans masculine; to ask a favour yourself say onegai / onegai shimasu — 'X, tanomimasu' is how a boss hands out a task.
Learn alongside: kiku