称する

• Reading: しょうする
• Romaji: shousuru
• Kanji breakdown: 称 (shō) — call, name, praise, weigh
• Pronunciation: /ɕoː.sɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To call; to name; to style oneself as. To designate or refer to something by a particular name or title.

A する verb (Group 3) that functions in both literary and modern contexts. Used to describe giving a name or title to something, or claiming a title for oneself. Often appears in formal writing, historical texts, and news. Can carry a nuance of self-proclaimed or dubious claims when describing someone's title.

Examples

1. 彼は自らを専門家と称している。 He calls himself an expert.
2. この地域は日本の台所と称される。 This region is known as the kitchen of Japan.
3. 彼はその功績により英雄と称された。 He was hailed as a hero for his achievements.

Usage Guide

Context: formal writing, news, historical texts

Tone: declarative

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 称 (shō), meaning to weigh, measure, or name. Originally from Chinese, where the character depicted a weighing scale, evolving to mean evaluating and naming things.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Professional