格言|かくげんkakugen[0]heiban (flat)

1. no-adjectivesaying; maxim; aphorism; proverb
   彼かれは自分じぶんのすきな格言かくげんをいれた。↗

   He worked in his favorite maxim.

• Synonym名言めいげんNeutralA quote capturing the essence of things, like famous people's words; stresses brilliant phrasing, not necessarily a lesson, while 「格言」 centers on advice and life wisdom.
• SynonymことわざNeutralProverbs handed down among the people since old times, e.g. 「急がば回れ」; often witty or satirical. 「格言」 concisely states life truths and does not stress folk transmission.
• Synonym金言きんげんWrittenA profound saying that can serve as a model for living; written register with a dignified feel, and less common than 「格言」.
• Synonym箴言しんげんWrittenAdmonishing words; also the Bible's Book of Proverbs. Written register, more solemn than 「格言」, with the focus on warning and instruction.
• SynonymマキシムNeutralA loanword meaning maxim or motto; used less often, and in everyday speech 「格言」 is enough.
• Related俚諺りげんWrittenA homely proverb current among the common people; written register, stressing folk transmission, which 「格言」 does not emphasize.
• Related俗諺ぞくげんWrittenFolk proverbs and common sayings; written register, a synonym of 「俚諺」, though in daily speech 「諺」 is the usual word.
• Related金言名句きんげんめいくWrittenA four-character compound combining golden sayings and famous quotes; emphatic and more grandiose than 「格言」. Written register.

Use 「格言」 for words that state life truths concisely and serve as lessons, as in 「格言を座右の銘とする」. For a brilliantly phrased famous quote say 「名言」, for folk proverbs 「諺」, for admonishing words 「箴言」; the rest are rarer or written in tone.

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

1. 人生じんせいの真理しんりや機微きび・処世術しょせいじゅつなどを簡潔かんけつに述のべ、万人ばんにんへの教訓きょうくん・戒いましめとした言葉ことば。