伝説

• 読み: でんせつ
• ローマ字: densetsu
• 漢字の分解: 伝 (transmit/pass down) + 説 (story/tell) → legend/legendary tale
• 発音: /deɴ.se.tsɯ/

意味

Legendary or iconic — used to elevate something to mythical status in casual conversation.

Originally meaning 'legend' or 'legendary tale,' 伝説 is used in slang to describe anything so memorable it deserves to be retold for years. A concert, a speech, a sports moment, or even a night out can be 伝説. It carries a sense of historical weight — the speaker is declaring that this event or person will be remembered. Often combined with 級 (class/level) as 伝説級.

例文

1. あのライブは伝説だったよ。一生忘れない。
2. 先輩の卒業式スピーチ、もはや伝説になってる。
3. このバンドの解散コンサートは伝説級だった。

使い方ガイド

場面: friends, entertainment, sports, nostalgia

トーン: awed, reverent, nostalgic

正しい言い方

• あの試合は伝説だよ、語り継がれるレベル (That match was legendary — the kind you pass down through generations)
• 伝説級のパフォーマンスだった (It was a legendary-tier performance)

避ける言い方

• 些細なことに「伝説」は大げさすぎる (Calling trivial things 'densetsu' is too exaggerated and sounds ironic)

よくある間違い

• Overusing 伝説 for ordinary events — it should be reserved for truly memorable moments
• Not knowing the common compound 伝説級 (legendary-class) which is even more emphatic

起源と歴史

Standard Japanese word meaning 'legend/legendary tale' (伝 transmit + 説 story). Casual hyperbolic usage has been common in entertainment and sports culture for decades.

文化的背景

時代: Traditional word, casual hyperbolic usage widespread in entertainment culture

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal

地域メモ: Used across all of Japan. Common in sports commentary, music reviews, and storytelling. The phrase 伝説の〇〇 (legendary X) and 伝説級 (legendary-class) are widely used compounds.