JLPT · Level 167
15 words
Japanese word
誇張
Pronunciation
Romajikochō
Meaning
- nounexaggeration
Example
それは誇張です。so re wa ko chō de su
That is an exaggeration.
More examples
数字の誇張は、読者の判断を誤らせるおそれがあります。sū ji no ko chō wa doku sha no han dan o ayama ra se ru o so re ga a ri ma su
Exaggerating figures can mislead readers.
Core concept
Presents a fact or quality beyond its actual degree so that it appears more impressive than it is.
Common phrases
誇張と受け取るko chō to u ke to ru
take as an exaggeration
誇張だと疑うko chō da to utaga u
suspect exaggeration
誇張を避けるko chō o sa ke ru
avoid exaggeration
Similar words
大げさōgesa: A representation of something as more important, serious, or impressive than its actual state.
誇大kodai: An excessive representation of the size, value, or importance of something.
針小棒大shinshōbōdai: The treatment of a small matter as though it had great importance.
Definition in Japanese
事実以上に物事の程度や価値を大きく表現すること。ji jitsu i jō ni mono goto no tei do ya ka chi o ō ki ku hyō gen su ru ko to
Word origin
誇 (ko, "boast") and 張 (chō, "stretch") combine in 誇張 (kochō) to express the idea of stretching a boast beyond the facts.
Usage tips
- A statement can be called 誇張 (kochō) even when it contains a fact, if the wording makes that fact seem greater than its actual scale.
Opposites
- 過小評価kashōhyōkaunderestimationnoun
Related words
- 誇張するkochōsuruexaggerateverb