1.
to admonish, to persuade, to tell firmly, to reason with
To patiently explain or reason with someone to make them understand or comply. Often used for parents instructing children, or for convincing oneself of something.
子どもに言い聞かせる。
To reason with a child.
自分に言い聞かせるように繰り返した。
I repeated it as if trying to convince myself.
先生が生徒にルールを守るよう何度も言い聞かせた。
The teacher repeatedly told the students to follow the rules.
USAGE:
言い聞かせる implies patience and repetition — it is not a one-time command but a process of making someone understand through explanation. The reflexive pattern 自分に言い聞かせる (to tell oneself, to convince oneself) is very common and expresses trying to accept something difficult.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 子どもに言い聞かせる: to reason with a child
- 自分に言い聞かせる: to convince oneself
- よく言い聞かせる: to explain carefully and thoroughly
- 何度も言い聞かせる: to tell repeatedly