暗喩

• Reading: あんゆ
• Romaji: anyu
• Kanji breakdown: 暗 (an) — dark, hidden | 喩 (yu) — metaphor, parable
• Pronunciation: /aɴ.jɯ/

Meaning

Metaphor; implied comparison. A figure of speech in which one thing is described as if it were another, without using explicit comparative words.

A noun for metaphor (as distinct from 直喩/simile, which uses ように or まるで). 暗喩 works by asserting identity rather than likeness — 'Life is a journey' rather than 'Life is like a journey'. In Japanese literary criticism, it appears frequently in the analysis of poetry, prose fiction, and political rhetoric. The related term 隠喩 is largely synonymous and used interchangeably in academic contexts.

Examples

1. 彼の詩には人生を旅に見立てた暗喩が随所に散りばめられていた。 His poetry was scattered throughout with metaphors casting life as a journey.
2. 政治批判を直接せず、暗喩を使って表現するのが当時の文人の手法だった。 Rather than criticising politics directly, the literary men of the era used metaphor to express their views.
3. この小説の暗喩を読み解くには、時代背景への深い理解が必要だ。 To unpick the metaphors in this novel requires a deep understanding of its historical context.

Usage Guide

Context: literary criticism, rhetoric, poetry analysis, academic writing

Tone: analytical

Origin & History

From 暗 (an) meaning 'dark, hidden, implicit' and 喩 (yu) meaning 'metaphor, comparison, parable'. The character 暗 signals that the comparison is not stated openly — it is 'hidden' within the expression.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated