How to say "folklore" in Japanese

• 伝説でんせつJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveCovers 'folklore' as legendary tales tied to particular places, people, or events; when you mean 'legend' rather than folklore broadly, this is the word to reach for.
  その歌うたは伝説でんせつに由来ゆらいする物ものだった。↗

  The song descended from a legend.
• 俗説ぞくせつCommon
  nounMatches 'folklore' when it means a notion widely accepted by the public but unverified or actually false; the nuance is dismissive, so it suits contexts like debunking a claim as mere folklore.
• 伝承でんしょうCommon
  suru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveEmphasizes the handing down of stories and knowledge from generation to generation, so it fits 'folklore' as the inherited tradition of a community or region rather than any single tale.
• 民話みんわCommon
  no-adjectiveIs the direct equivalent for 'folklore' when you mean folk tales as a genre — traditional stories told among ordinary people; it points to the tales themselves rather than customs or beliefs.
  彼かれは日本にっぽんの民話みんわを教科書きょうかしょ用ように纏まとめた。↗

  He compiled a Japanese folklore anthology for use in schools.
• 故事こじCommon
  nounOnly marginally 'folklore': it really points to age-old customs, practices, or events handed down from the past, so it is seldom the word you want when you mean folk tales or legends.

Use 民話 for folk tales as stories, 伝説 for legends tied to particular places or figures, 伝承 for traditions handed down over generations, 俗説 for widely believed but unverified notions, and 故事 for old customs rather than folklore.

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

• 伝説でんせつlegend
• 俗説ぞくせつcommon saying
• 伝承でんしょうhanding down (information)
• 民話みんわfolk tale
• レジェンドlegend
• フォークロアfolklore
• 民間伝承みんかんでんしょうfolklore
• 口碑こうひoral tradition
• 口承文芸こうしょうぶんげいoral literature
• 民譚みんだんfolk tale
• 民間説話みんかんせつわfolk tale
• 故事こじtradition
• フォルクローレfolk customs