Japanese Conversation · Level 54
90 words
Japanese word
例える
Pronunciation
Romajitatoeru
Meaning
- verbcompare, compare ___ to ___
Example
先生は人生を旅に例えます。sen sei wa jin sei o tabi ni tato e ma su
The teacher compares life to a journey.
More examples
私は妹の笑顔を花に例えます。watashi wa imōto no e gao o hana ni tato e ma su
I compare my sister's smile to a flower.
この気持ちは、普通の言葉では例えられません。ko no ki mo chi wa fu tsū no koto ba de wa tato e ra re ma se n
This feeling cannot be put into ordinary words.
Core concept
Describes one thing by linking it to another that shares a relevant feature.
Common phrases
愛を花に例えるai o hana ni tato e ru
compare love to a flower
何かを別のものに例えるnan ka o betsu no mo no ni tato e ru
compare something to something else
Similar words
なぞらえるnazoraeru: To describe something by presenting it as similar to another thing in a particular respect.
見立てるmitateru: To interpret one thing as another and use that connection in a description.
比喩するhiyusuru: To convey a meaning through a metaphorical connection between two things.
Definition in Japanese
あるものを別のものになぞらえて、その性質や状態を説明する。a ru mo no o betsu no mo no ni na zo ra e te so no sei shitsu ya jō tai o setsu mei su ru
Word origin
The native Japanese verb 例える (tatoeru, "to compare") is the modern form of the older verb たとふ (tatofu, "to compare or use as an example").
Usage tips
- A speaker can use 例える (tatoeru) for both serious explanations and playful descriptions, so the verb appears across many conversational topics.
Other meanings
- speak figurativelyverb
Related words
- 例え方tatoekataway of comparingnoun
- 例えtatoeanalogynoun