How to say "tradition" in Japanese

• 伝統でんとうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe word you want for tradition as customs, practices, or ways of doing things passed down within a culture, family, or organization; it can also mean convention.
  古ふるい伝統でんとうが消滅しょうめつしつつある。↗

  Old traditions are crumbling away.
• 伝説でんせつJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveReally 'legend': a traditional story or folklore handed down about the past. Its 'tradition' sense is this storytelling one — it is not the word for customs or practices.
  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.
• 言い伝えいいつたえCommon
  nounTradition in the sense of lore handed down by word of mouth — sayings, beliefs, or legends transmitted orally within a community or family, rather than established customs.
• 伝承でんしょうCommon
  suru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveEmphasizes the handing down of information, lore, or tradition from one generation to the next; it can also refer to what is handed down — legends, folklore, tradition.
• 内規ないきCommon
  nounSeldom the word for 'tradition': it really means an organization's private regulations or internal bylaws. Only marginally does it extend to a group's established internal practices in the sense of tradition.

Use 伝統 for customs and practices passed down over time; 伝説 and 「言い伝え」 for stories and lore; 伝承 for the act of handing them down; 内規 is really an organization's internal rules.

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

• 伝統でんとうtradition
• 伝説でんせつlegend
• 言い伝えいいつたえtradition
• 伝承でんしょうhanding down (information)
• 内規ないきprivate regulations
• 俗説ぞくせつcommon saying
• レジェンドlegend
• 伝えつたえlegend
• トラディションtradition
• 旧典きゅうてんtradition
• 歴伝れきでんtradition
• 伝唱でんしょうtradition
• しきたりcustom
• 旧例きゅうれいold custom
• 古伝こでんlegend
• 古例これいold precedent
• 伝でんlegend
• 聖伝せいでん(Catholic) tradition
• 故事こじtradition
• 習慣しゅうかん(social) custom
• 性さがcustom
• 型かたconvention