How to say "commentary" in Japanese

• 解説かいせつJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers commentary in the explanatory sense: a piece that elucidates a subject, such as commentary accompanying a broadcast or a guide to a work. Choose it when the aim is to explain rather than judge.
  彼かれの解説かいせつがわかった人ひとはほとんどいなかった。↗

  Few people understood his comment.
• 評ひょうCommon
  noun, noun (suffix)As 'commentary' it means critical commentary — an assessment or review that weighs and judges something, rather than a neutral explanation. For plain explanatory commentary this is not the word you want.
• 批評ひひょうJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers commentary as critique: criticism or review that analyzes a work and passes judgment on it, as in literary criticism. Use it when 'commentary' implies evaluation, not when it simply means explanation.
  音楽家おんがくかは一般いっぱんに批評ひひょうに敏感びんかんである。↗

  Musicians are usually sensitive to criticism.
• 論説ろんせつCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbSeldom the word you want for 'commentary': it really denotes a written argument or discourse — an article that sets out and defends a position — so reach for it only when 'commentary' means an argumentative piece.

Use 解説 for explanatory commentary that clarifies how something works; 評 and 批評 for critical commentary that reviews and judges a work; 論説 is really a written argument or article, rarely the right choice for 'commentary'.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 解説かいせつexplanation
• 評ひょうcriticism
• 批評ひひょうcriticism
• 論説ろんせつarticle
• コメンタリーcommentary
• 評注ひょうちゅうcommentary
• 評釈ひょうしゃくcommentary
• 爻辞こうじcommentary (on any of the 384 lines of the hexagrams in the Book of Changes)
• 余説よせつcommentary
• 注記ちゅうきannotation
• 通釈つうしゃくexplanation
• 通解つうかいexplanation
• 評註ひょうちゅうannotation
• 月旦評げったんひょうcharacter sketch
• 注疏ちゅうそ(detailed) commentary
• 月旦げったんcharacter sketch
• 評説ひょうせつcomment