The verb 言う

is the Japanese word for to say or to speak. It behaves like other verbs but it is used in conjunction with two different particles: the particle when making a quotation, or the particle for non-quotes. You can also use to ask how to say something in Japanese using this useful pattern: XXXXは日本語にほんごなんいますか?

Note that in the last sentence the particle is used instead of . Otherwise, the sentence would have meant: She didn't say "that". You'll learn more about quoting people in a later lesson.

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