生きる伝説

• Reading: いきるでんせつ
• Romaji: ikiru densetsu
• Kanji breakdown: 生 (life/live) + きる (to live, verb ending) + 伝 (transmit) + 説 (theory/tale) → living legend
• Pronunciation: /i.ki.ru.de.n.se.tsu/

Meaning

Living legend — someone whose achievements are already legendary while they are still active.

A direct translation of 'living legend' that has been thoroughly naturalised in Japanese. Used for athletes, artists, and public figures whose accomplishments are so remarkable that they would normally only be celebrated in retrospect. The phrase carries genuine reverence and is one of the weightier compliments in casual Japanese.

Examples

1. 40年現役で走り続けるって生きる伝説だよ。 Staying active for 40 years straight — that's a living legend.
2. あの監督はもう生きる伝説だよね。 That director is already a living legend, right?
3. 生きる伝説を生で見られて感動した。 I was moved to see a living legend in person.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, entertainment, social media, friends

Tone: reverent, awestruck

Do Say

• あの人はもう生きる伝説だよ。 (That person is already a living legend.)
• 生きる伝説と同じ時代に生まれてよかった。 (I'm glad I was born in the same era as a living legend.)

Don't Say

• 若い人やまだ実績が少ない人に使うと大げさ (Using it for young people or those with limited achievements sounds exaggerated)

Common Mistakes

• Using 生きる伝説 too casually — it carries real weight and should be reserved for genuinely legendary figures

Origin & History

Calque of the English phrase 'living legend' (生きる = living + 伝説 = legend). While the concept existed in Japanese through traditional honorifics, the specific compound 生きる伝説 became popular through sports journalism and entertainment media.

Cultural Context

Era: Sports and entertainment journalism, mainstream since 2000s

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Carries genuine gravitas and is not typically used sarcastically.