例たとえ

た

と

え

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

Commonly used to give a concrete example or illustration. Often appears in phrases like 例えを挙げる (give an example) or 例えとして (as an example).

分わかりやすい例たとえを挙あげてください。
Please give an easy-to-understand example.
これはあくまで例たとえです。
This is just an example.

noun

simile; metaphor; allegory; parable

Refers to figurative language or a story used to illustrate a point. 喩え is the preferred kanji for this sense. Can be used in literary or explanatory contexts.

彼かれの話はなしはいつも面おも白しろい喩たとえに満みちている。
His stories are always full of interesting metaphors.
この寓ぐう話わは人じん生せいの喩たとえとしてよく知しられている。
This fable is well known as an allegory of life.

See all 26 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉を例たとえに挙あげるto give ~ as an example
先せん生せいは具ぐ体たい的てきな例たとえを挙あげて説せつ明めいした。
The teacher explained by giving a concrete example.
〈物もの〉を例たとえにするto use ~ as an example/comparison
彼かれは川かわの流ながれを人じん生せいの例たとえにした。
He used the flow of a river as a metaphor for life.
例たとえで説せつ明めいするto explain something using a metaphor/comparison
難むずかしい概がい念ねんを例たとえで説せつ明めいしてくれた。
She explained the difficult concept using a metaphor.

Expressions

例たとえに言いうspeak metaphorically; use a figure of speech
例たとえるならfor example; if I were to compare it
例たとえて言いうとfiguratively speaking; metaphorically speaking; so to speak
例たとえようもないbeyond comparison; incomparable

Kanji

例example, custom, usage
譬illustrate
喩metaphor, compare

Related words

比ひ喩ゆN1sense 2
比喩 is the formal, academic term for a metaphor or simile, while 例え is the everyday word that can mean either a concrete example or a figurative comparison.
例れいN5sense 1
例 is the plain, general word for 'example' used in set phrases like 例を挙げる, while 例え carries a slightly more explanatory or illustrative nuance.
実じつ例れいN2sense 1
実例 stresses a real, concrete case actually observed, whereas 例え can be a hypothetical or invented example used for explanation.
寓ぐう話わ sense 2
寓話 refers specifically to a fable or allegorical story with a moral, while 例え more broadly covers any metaphor, simile, or illustrative comparison.

Don't confuse with

例たとえばN4sense 1
例えば is an adverb meaning 'for example' used to introduce a case, whereas 例え is the noun for the example or comparison itself.
例れいN5
例え is a simile or metaphor, while 例 is a concrete example or precedent.

Word family

例たとえばN4
for example; for instance
例たとえるN2
compare to; liken to; use a simile/metaphor

Written forms

例たとえUsage19%
Standard kanji spelling for 'example'; also used for 'simile/metaphor' but 喩え is more specific.
たとえUsage56%
譬たとえUsage14%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form for 'simile/metaphor'.
喩たとえUsage8%
Preferred spelling for 'simile/metaphor/allegory' to distinguish from 'example'.
譬たとえUsage3%
search-only kanji form
Search-only kanji form for 'simile/metaphor'.
タトエUsage<1%

Etymology

Derived from the verb 例える (たとえる, 'to compare, liken'). The kanji 例 carries the meaning 'example, precedent', while 喩 and 譬 are used specifically for figurative comparisons.