Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
寓言 (ぐうげん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
allegory ; fable
A literary genre or narrative technique where characters and events symbolically represent abstract ideas or moral lessons. Often used in discussions of classic literature, such as Aesop's fables or Chinese philosophical allegories.
Kanji 寓 temporary abode, imply, suggest Similar words 寓ぐう 話わ 寓話 is the more common word for 'fable' or 'allegory' in modern Japanese. 寓言 is a less frequent synonym, often used in literary or academic contexts.
比ひ 喩ゆ 比喩 is a general term for 'metaphor' or 'figure of speech', while 寓言 specifically refers to an extended narrative allegory or fable.
Etymology From Chinese 寓言 (yùyán), literally 'lodged words', referring to words that convey meaning indirectly through a story. The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the spelling is conventionally associated with allegorical tales.
形かたち
で
表ひょう
現げん
し
て
いる
。
This novel expresses social criticism in the form of an allegory.