比喩

• Reading: ひゆ
• Romaji: hiyu
• Kanji breakdown: 比 (hi/kura) — compare; 喩 (yu/tato) — metaphor, analogy
• Pronunciation: /çi.jɯ/

Meaning

Metaphor; simile; figurative expression. Language that describes something by reference to something else to clarify or illuminate meaning.

A noun covering all forms of figurative comparison — including metaphors (暗喩), similes (直喩), and analogies. Frequently appears in literary criticism, rhetoric, and writing instruction. 比喩的な表現 (figurative expression) and 比喩を用いる (to use metaphor) are standard collocations. Has a formal, academic register.

Examples

1. 詩人は愛の痛みを嵐に例える比喩を巧みに使った。 The poet skillfully used a metaphor comparing the pain of love to a storm.
2. 彼の話は比喩が多く、文字通りの意味と区別しにくかった。 His speech was so full of metaphors that it was hard to distinguish the literal meaning.
3. 生命を炎に喩えるのは古くから使われてきた比喩の一つだ。 Comparing life to a flame is one of the oldest metaphors there is.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, rhetoric, writing, language education

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 比 (hi, compare) and 喩 (yu, analogy/explanation through comparison). The character 喩 itself denotes explaining by likening. Derived from classical Chinese rhetorical tradition and adopted into Japanese literary and academic discourse.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated