The Meaning of hitorigoto [独り言] In Japanese

独り言
ひとりごと
Romaji: hitorigoto N5

What does 独り言 mean?

Translation and Meaning

soliloquy, talking to oneself, self-talk

Definition

独り言 means a spoken expression of one’s thoughts, typically when alone. It refers to muttering or voicing private musings aloud rather than addressing others, and is used to describe everyday behavior with a neutral, humorous, or critical nuance.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • A soliloquy or self-directed speech spoken aloud, usually when alone
  • A muttering or casual voicing of private thoughts without intending an audience
  • In literature or media, a device to reveal a character’s internal thoughts
  • In everyday speech, a habit of talking to oneself rather than responding to others

Etymology

独り + 言 ; the first element means alone, the second means speech. The compound describes speech produced by oneself rather than others.

Composition

  • 独 meaning alone; り is an okurigana turning the kanji into the noun/adjectival form; 言 meaning speech or words. Together they form a noun describing speech by oneself

Usage

Used as a noun to denote muttering or speaking to oneself; typically casual or neutral in tone; common in everyday conversation, in commentary, or in writing to show a character’s private thoughts.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: visualize a single person (独) with a speech bubble containing the kanji for speech (言); link the idea of one person speaking to themselves to remember hitorigoto

Variations

  • 独白 (dokuhaku) — monologue, often literary
  • つぶやき (tsubuyaki) — muttering or mumbling; casual
  • 無言 (mugon) — silence, lack of speech
  • 内心の独り言 (naishin no hitorigoto) — inner monologue

Example Phrases

  • 会議中、彼はつい独り言をつぶやいた。
    Kaigi-chū, kare wa tsui hitogoto o tsubuya ita.
    During the meeting, he muttered to himself inadvertently.
    Lista:
    • 会議中 (kaigi-chū) – during the meeting
    • 彼は (kare wa) – he
    • つい (tsui) – inadvertently
    • 独り言 (hitogoto) – self-talk
    • を (o) – object marker
    • つぶやいた (tsubuyaita) – muttered
    Here, 「独り言」 is a noun meaning ‘self-talk’ or ‘talking to oneself’, used with を to mark the object of つぶやく, as in 独り言をつぶやく.
独り言