たわ言(ごと)

たわごと
noun
nonsense; drivel; foolish talk
literary
1. nonsense; drivel; foolish talk
Silly, meaningless, or irrational speech. Often used to dismiss someone's statements as worthless.
そんなたわ言(ごと)は聞(き)きたくない。
I don't want to hear such nonsense.
酔(よ)っぱらってたわ言(ごと)を言(い)っている。
He's drunk and talking nonsense.
たわ言(ごと)だと思(おも)われるかもしれないが、本気(ほんき)だ。
You might think it's nonsense, but I'm serious.

Kanji variations

Can be written as 戯言(たわごと) or 戯(たわむ)れ言(ごと), but often written in hiragana as たわ言(ごと) or たわごと.

Usage

たわ言(ごと) is used to dismiss something as foolish or irrational. It's slightly more literary or emphatic than just saying くだらないこと (worthless things).

Common patterns

  • たわ言(ごと)を言(い)う - to talk nonsense
  • たわ言(ごと)だ - it's nonsense
  • たわ言(ごと)にすぎない - it's nothing but nonsense

RELATED 〜言(ごと) WORDS:

Register

Slightly literary/emphatic. Can sound dismissive or contemptuous.

Related Words

Related: 寝言(ねごと) (sleep-talk)
Related: 繰(く)り言(ごと) (repetitive complaints)
Related: 泣(な)き言(ごと) (complaining, whining)
Compare: 戯言(ざれごと) (nonsense)
general
Added 2026.1.19 16:22 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
07000/07394_tawagoto