物語・物語り|ものがたりmonogatari[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. nounstory; tale; narrative; account; fable; legend
   これは、ある猫ねこについての物語ものがたりです。↗

   This is a story about a cat.

• Synonym話はなしNeutralThe everyday word: talk, a topic, or a story. 「物語」 points to a shaped, finished story or literary work rather than talk in general.
• SynonymストーリーNeutralLoanword for a story, used mostly for the plot or storyline of a film, show, or novel; 「物語」 is the usual word for a finished tale or classical work.
• Synonym語りかたりNeutralThe act of telling a story, or narration and voice-over in film and TV. Focuses on the telling itself rather than the story as a work.
• Synonym説話せつわWrittenWritten/formal: old tales handed down — folk or Buddhist stories, like those collected in 「今昔物語集」. A literary term, not everyday.
• Related故事こじWrittenWritten/formal: historical anecdotes and the origins behind sayings, as in 「故事成語」. Unlike Chinese 故事, it is not the general word for a story.
• Related伝説でんせつNeutralFolk legends handed down, often with a mysterious air. 「物語」 can be any fictional creation, not just old lore.
• Related言い伝えいいつたえNeutralSayings and legends passed on by word of mouth, mostly among ordinary people. Narrower than 「物語」, which covers crafted stories.
• Related語り草かたりぐさNeutralSomething that becomes a topic people retell, as in 「今でも語り草だ」. It is the retold anecdote, not a story as a work.
• Related歴史れきしNeutralHistory that actually happened. 「物語」 is a story that is told and may be fiction.
• Related経緯けいいWrittenWritten/formal: the ins and outs of how events unfolded, as in 「事件の経緯」. It stresses the factual course of events, not a narrative work.
• Related沿革えんかくWrittenWritten/formal: the history of an organization or system over time, as in 「会社の沿革」. Not used for stories.
• Related記事きじNeutralA report or article in a newspaper or magazine. 「物語」 is a crafted story work, not factual reporting.
• Related由来書ゆらいがきWrittenWritten/formal: a document recording the origins of a temple, shrine, or object. Strictly a written file, never a told story.
• RelatedヒストリーNeutralLoanword for history or personal background, common in product marketing and résumés. Not for stories or tales.

Use 「物語」 for a shaped story, novel, or classical work. For plot, say 「ストーリー」; for folk legends, 「伝説」 or 「言い伝え」; for the course of events, 「経緯」. 「話」 is the everyday word for talk or a story; 「歴史」 is real history; 「記事」 is a news article; 「語り」 is narration. The rest are narrow or written terms.

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

1. さまざまな事柄ことがらについて語り合かたりあう事こと。
2. あるまとまった内容ないようの話はなしや、古ふるくから語り伝かたりつたえられた話はなし。又またはそれを話はなす事こと。
3. 文学ぶんがく形態けいたいの一いち。散文さんぶん文学ぶんがくのうち、自照じしょう文学ぶんがくを除のぞくものの総称そうしょう。
4. 浄瑠璃じょうるり・歌舞伎かぶきの演出えんしゅつ・演技えんぎの一いち形式けいしき。