いわば

い

わ

ば

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

usually written using kana alone

Used to introduce a metaphor, analogy, or rephrasing; often softens a statement by indicating it is not literal.

の

心しん

臓ぞう

だ

。

He 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。

This town is, as it were, my second hometown.

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。
He 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。
This decision could be said to be, so to speak, a painful choice.

言いってみれば
言ってみれば is a more colloquial, conversational way to say 'so to speak' than the slightly more formal いわば.
いわゆるN2
いわゆる is a pre-noun word meaning 'so-called' that directly modifies a noun, while いわば is an adverb used to introduce a metaphor or rephrasing before a clause.
要ようするにN3
要するに means 'in short, to sum up' and states a conclusion, whereas いわば offers a figurative or alternative way of describing something.
ある意い味みで
ある意味で softens a statement by framing it as true from a certain perspective, while 言わば introduces a metaphorical or illustrative way of putting something.

いわばUsage96%
Kana spelling is standard; usually written in kana.
言いわばUsage4%
Kanji spelling is possible but uncommon; learners should use the kana form.
謂いわば
Rare kanji spelling using 謂; not recommended for general use.

From the conditional form of the verb 言う (いう, 'to say') + particle ば, literally 'if one says'.