小説

• Reading: しょうせつ
• Romaji: shousetsu
• Kanji breakdown: 小 (shō/chii) — small; 説 (setsu/to) — theory, explanation
• Pronunciation: /ɕoː.se.tsɯ/

Meaning

A novel; a work of fiction. A written literary work of narrative prose.

Covers all types of fiction novels including 長編小説 (long novels), 短編小説 (short stories), and 推理小説 (mystery novels). Japan has a rich literary tradition, and reading novels is a popular pastime. The word is also used in the compound 小説家 (novelist).

Examples

1. 毎晩、寝る前に小説を読みます。 I read a novel every night before bed.
2. この小説は映画にもなりました。 This novel was also made into a movie.
3. 将来、小説家になりたいです。 I want to become a novelist in the future.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, entertainment, hobbies

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Chinese 小説 (xiǎoshuō), originally meaning 'minor talk' or 'trivial tales.' The meaning evolved to refer to prose fiction, particularly novels.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal