いわばいわばCommon word›JLPTN2›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000じ字FuriganaAudioMeanings1adverbso to speak; as it wereusually written using kana aloneUsed to introduce a metaphor, analogy, or rephrasing; often softens a statement by indicating it is not literal.彼かれはいわば、このチームの心しん臓ぞうだ。Break this sentence down in the analyzerHe is, so to speak, the heart of this team.この町まちはいわば私わたしの第だい二にの故こ郷きょうです。Break this sentence down in the analyzerThis town is, as it were, my second hometown.See all 18 example sentences ›Usage patternsいわば〈物もの〉のようなものだit is, so to speak, like a ~彼かれはいわばこのチームの心しん臓ぞうのようなものだ。Break this sentence down in the analyzerHe is, so to speak, the heart of this team.いわば〈事こと〉と言いえるit could be said to be, so to speak, ~この決けっ定ていはいわば苦く渋じゅうの選せん択たくと言いえる。Break this sentence down in the analyzerThis decision could be said to be, so to speak, a painful choice.
