How to say "fictional" in Japanese

• フィクショナル
  na-adjectiveCovers the general sense of 'fictional' — invented, existing only within a story rather than in reality. A katakana loanword and a less common choice, it appears in discussion of novels, films, or characters.
• 二次元にじげんCommon
  no-adjectiveLiterally 'two-dimensional', it means 'fictional' only in relation to anime, manga, and the like. This common word is a noun referring to drawn characters and their worlds, as opposed to real people.

Choose 「フィクショナル」 for the general sense 'invented, not real', though it is a less common loanword; choose 二次元, the common word, only when 'fictional' concerns the drawn world of anime and manga.

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

• フィクショナルfictional
• 二次元にじげんfictional (in relation to anime, manga, etc.)
• 二次にじfictional (in relation to anime, manga, etc.)