言い渡す

• Reading: いいわたす
• Romaji: iiwatasu
• Kanji breakdown: 言 (gen/i) — speak, declare; 渡 (to/wata) — hand over, deliver, cross
• Pronunciation: /i.i.wa.ta.sɯ/

Meaning

To pronounce; to hand down (a verdict or sentence); to formally notify someone of a decision. Used in legal, medical, and institutional contexts.

A Group 1 (godan) compound verb combining 言う (to say) and 渡す (to hand over). 言い渡す implies an authoritative, formal declaration directed at a specific person — a judge pronouncing a sentence, a doctor delivering a prognosis, or a company notifying an employee of dismissal. The declaration is binding and consequential. Key collocations: 判決を言い渡す (pronounce a verdict), 解雇を言い渡す (notify of dismissal).

Examples

1. 裁判官は被告に懲役三年の実刑判決を言い渡した。 The judge handed down a sentence of three years' imprisonment to the defendant.
2. 医師から余命六ヶ月と言い渡され、彼の人生観は一変した。 When told by a doctor that he had six months to live, his entire outlook on life changed completely.
3. 突然解雇を言い渡された従業員は、不当解雇として会社を訴えた。 An employee who was suddenly notified of dismissal sued the company for wrongful termination.

Usage Guide

Context: law, medicine, business, institutions

Tone: authoritative

Origin & History

Compound of 言う (to say) and 渡す (to hand over/deliver). The image of delivering words across from an authority figure to a recipient captures the formal, binding nature of the act.

Cultural Context

Era: Contemporary

Generation: Adults

Social background: General