How to say "metaphor" in Japanese

• 比喩ひゆCommon
  nounThe most direct equivalent for the literary sense of 'metaphor': a figure of speech that describes one thing in terms of another. Fits discussions of rhetoric, poetry, and figurative language in general.
• 形容けいようCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbNot the word for figurative speech; it really means description or expression in words, including how an adjective qualifies a noun. Only suits 'metaphor' loosely, when it amounts to a way of describing something.
  その王女おうじょは形容けいようできないほど美うつくしかった。↗

  The princess was beautiful beyond description.
• 例えたとえJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers 'metaphor' in the sense of a concrete illustration or analogy drawn to explain an idea. Typical when you say 'it's just an analogy' or introduce an explanatory comparison, often alongside verbs like 挙げる.
  「陸りくに上あがった河童かっぱ」とは環境かんきょうが変かわったために能力のうりょくを発揮はっきできずにいることのたとえです。↗

  "A fish out of water" is a metaphor for being unable to use your talents due to a change of environment.

Use 比喩 for figurative expression in general, 「例え」 for an illustration or analogy explaining something, and 形容 only when 'metaphor' really means verbal description or modification.

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

• 比喩ひゆsimile
• 形容けいようdescription
• メタファーmetaphor
• 暗喩あんゆmetaphor
• 隠喩いんゆmetaphor
• メタフォールmetaphor
• 例えたとえsimile