言い分

• Reading: いいぶん
• Romaji: iibun
• Kanji breakdown: 言 (gen/i) — say; 分 (bun/bu) — portion, share, one's due
• Pronunciation: /iː.bɯn/

Meaning

One's say; one's argument or position; complaint; excuse. What one has the right or need to express.

A noun meaning 'what one has to say' — one's argument, claim, grievance, or side of the story. Used when someone has a position they wish to state, particularly in disputes or complaints. 言い分を聞く (to hear someone out) is a very common collocation. Unlike 言い訳 (excuse), 言い分 can be entirely legitimate and reasonable — it simply means someone's perspective that deserves to be heard.

Examples

1. 相手の言い分もよく聞いてから、判断するべきだ。 You should listen carefully to the other party's side of the story before passing judgement.
2. 彼には彼なりの言い分があるはずだから、まず話し合おう。 He must have his own perspective, so let's talk it through first.
3. 社員からの言い分を無視して進めた結果、プロジェクトは失敗した。 Pressing ahead without listening to staff concerns led to the project's failure.

Usage Guide

Context: dispute, communication, workplace, legal

Tone: neutral to assertive

Origin & History

言い (to say, verbal expression) + 分 (share, portion, one's due). The compound means 'one's portion of speech' — what rightfully belongs to someone to say in a given situation.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adult

Social background: General