多弁

• Reading: たべん
• Romaji: taben
• Kanji breakdown: 多 (ta/oo) — many, much; 弁 (ben) — speech, eloquence, dialect
• Pronunciation: /ta.ben/

Meaning

Talkativeness; loquacity; the quality of speaking much or too much. Can describe both neutral verbosity and excessive, unnecessary chatter.

A na-adjective and noun. When used as a na-adjective, it takes な before nouns (多弁な人 — a talkative person). It contrasts with 寡黙 (taciturnity) and 訥弁 (halting, inarticulate speech). While it can be neutral or even admiring, it often carries a slightly negative nuance of speaking more than is necessary or appropriate for the situation.

Examples

1. 彼女は普段は多弁だが、大勢の前では口数が減る。 She is usually talkative, but speaks less in front of large crowds.
2. 多弁な政治家ほど、肝心なことを言わないものだ。 The more talkative a politician is, the less they tend to say anything of substance.
3. 多弁であることが必ずしも雄弁であることを意味しない。 Being talkative does not necessarily mean being eloquent.

Usage Guide

Context: character description, literary writing, social observation

Tone: slightly negative

Origin & History

From 多 (ta — many, much) and 弁 (ben — speech, eloquence). Together they convey the concept of having much speech, i.e., being prone to talking at length.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal