Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing 'analogy' depends on whether you are making a comparison to explain something, using a simile, or referring to the concept of analogy itself. The most common way is to use patterns like 〜のような (like) or 〜にたとえる (compare to).
To explain something by comparing it to something else, often using 'like' or 'as if'.
This is the standard way to say 'to liken A to B' or 'to draw an analogy between A and B'. It is neutral and widely used.
I liken life to a journey.
He often draws an analogy between love and war.
A casual and common way to say 'A is like B'. It's a simple analogy pattern.
Life is like a journey.
Means 'if we compare A to B'. Often used to introduce an analogy.
If we compare the heart to a pump, blood vessels are like pipes.
A noun meaning 'analogy', 'simile', or 'comparison'. Often used in phrases like たとえを使う (use an analogy).
I can't think of a good analogy.
To say something is similar to something else using 'like' or 'as'.
Attaches to a noun to mean 'like' or 'similar to'. Very common.
He has courage like a lion.
Casual version of 〜のような. Used in spoken Japanese.
That cloud is shaped like a dog, isn't it?
Emphasizes the simile, meaning 'just like'. Often used with まるで.
Her singing voice is just like an angel's.
Referring to analogy as a rhetorical device or logical concept.
The formal term for 'analogy' in logic or reasoning. Used in academic contexts.
Solve the problem by analogy.
Loanword from English. Used in technical or academic discussions, but less common than 類推.
Refers to figures of speech like metaphor and simile. Can be used for analogy in a literary sense.
たとえ is the everyday word for an analogy or comparison. 類推 is formal and used in logic or reasoning. アナロジー is a loanword used in academic or technical contexts, but 類推 is more common in written Japanese.
While アナロジー is understood, it can sound unnatural in casual conversation. Use たとえ or a pattern like 〜のようなものだ instead.
This analogy is easy to understand.
Many analogies are used in this poem.