Japanese word

伝説

Pronunciation

Romajidensetsu

Meaning

  • nounlegend

Example

昔の伝説を祖父から聞きました。mukashi no den setsu o so fu ka ra ki ki ma shi ta

I heard an old legend from my grandfather.

Illustration for 伝説 (legend)

More examples

この伝説には不思議な力を持つ鳥が登場します。ko no den setsu ni wa fu shi gi na chikara o mo tsu tori ga tō jō shi ma su

A bird with mysterious powers appears in this legend.

Core concept

A legend is a story handed down over time that connects a community with a memorable past.

Common phrases

  • 伝説になるden setsu ni na ru

    become a legend

  • 伝説の英雄den setsu no ei yū

    legendary hero

Similar words

言い伝えiitsutae: A story or belief passed down through generations within a group.
民話minwa: A traditional story shared among ordinary people in a community.
昔話mukashibanashi: A story from the past that is traditionally told, often to children.

Definition in Japanese

昔から人々の間で語り継がれてきた、真偽のはっきりしない物語。mukashi ka ra hito bito no aida de kata ri tsu ga re te ki ta shin gi no ha kki ri shi na i monogatari

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 伝 (den, "transmit") + 説 (setsu, "account") forms 伝説 (densetsu, "legend"), meaning a story passed down through generations.

Usage tips

  • In English, legend can mean either a traditional story or a person famous for exceptional achievements, so context determines the intended sense.

Other meanings

  • folklorenoun

Related words

  • 伝説的densetsutekilegendaryna-adjective

Word lists with this word