寓意

• Reading: ぐうい
• Romaji: guui
• Kanji breakdown: 寓 (guu) — lodge within, entrust; 意 (i) — meaning, intention
• Pronunciation: /ɡɯː.i/

Meaning

Allegory; moral; a hidden or symbolic meaning embedded within an apparently straightforward narrative, image, or expression.

A noun for a concealed meaning or deeper moral message that underlies a surface-level text, image, or story. Unlike 比喩 (metaphor/simile), which works at the level of expression, 寓意 operates at the level of a whole work or image. It is closely tied to the concept of allegory in Western literature and appears frequently in art historical and literary critical writing. Works said to contain 寓意 reward attentive, interpretive reading.

Examples

1. この絵画には権力の腐敗に対する深い寓意が込められていると解釈される。 This painting is interpreted as containing a deep allegory about the corruption of power.
2. 寓意に富んだ物語は、表面的な筋だけでなく深層に別のメッセージを持つ。 A story rich in allegory carries, beneath its surface plot, an entirely separate message at a deeper level.
3. 作家は寓意を用いて、直接語ることのできない社会批判を作品に込めた。 The author used allegory to embed social criticism in his work that could not be expressed directly.

Usage Guide

Context: literary criticism, art history, philosophy, allegory

Tone: analytical

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound. 寓 means 'to lodge within, to dwell, to entrust' and 意 means 'meaning, intention, mind'. The compound conveys the idea of a meaning that dwells within or is lodged inside a surface narrative.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Academic/Literary