Usage patterns 〈 事こと 〉 説せつ を 唱とな える to advocate/propose a theory
That scholar proposed a new theory.
自じ 分ぶん の 説せつ を 述の べる to state one's own opinion/view
I stated my own view at the meeting.
〈 事こと 〉 という 説せつ が 流なが れる for a rumor (that ...) to circulate
There's a rumor going around that he's going to quit.
〈 人ひと 〉 の 説せつ によると according to someone's theory
According to his theory, the dinosaurs went extinct due to a meteorite.
説せつ を 裏うら 付づ ける to back up/support a theory (with evidence)
The new fossil supported that theory.
Expressions 各かく 人じん 各かく 説せつ everyone has their own view; different people, different opinions 説せつ を 立た てる put forward a theory; advance a hypothesis 説せつ 明めい がつく be explainable; make sense; be accountable Kanji 説 opinion, theory, explanation Related words 理論 is a formal, systematic theory (often scientific), while 説 can refer more broadly to any theory, doctrine, or view.
意見 is a general word for an opinion or piece of advice, while 説 suggests a more reasoned or argued personal viewpoint.
噂 is the everyday spoken word for rumor or gossip, while 説 in this sense is more formal and typically appears in writing or news.
説 usually points to a specific view or opinion someone holds, whereas 論 stresses the reasoned argument or systematic theory behind it, often in formal writing.
Word family· 174 explanation; description; account
novel; story; fiction
explanation; commentary; exposition
legend; folklore; tradition
persuasion; convincing
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sermon; preaching; homily · scolding; lecturing; remonstration
hypothesis; assumption; tentative theory
editorial; leading article; leader
remark; statement; discourse
established theory; accepted view
various opinions; various theories · various rumors
article; discourse; dissertation; argument; commentary · editorial; leading article; leader
emphasize; stress; argue strongly
theory; academic doctrine
one theory; one opinion; another theory
paradox
prevailing view; common opinion; commonly accepted theory
Buddhist sermon; preaching the Dharma · lecturing; preaching; moralizing
lovers' quarrel; lovers' tiff · chattering; idle talk
one's own opinion; one's personal view
overview; outline; rough summary
rumor; gossip; hearsay
popular belief; common saying; folklore
new theory; new explanation
tale; narrative; story
geocentric theory; Ptolemaic theory
heliocentric theory; heliocentrism
belief in the innate goodness of human nature
illustrated explanation; diagram
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Etymology The kanji 説 originally means 'to explain' or 'to persuade'. The reading せつ is the Sino-Japanese on'yomi. The word has been used in Japanese to mean 'explanation', 'theory', and by extension 'opinion' or 'rumor'.
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