Japanese word

説

Pronunciation

Romajisetsu

Meaning

  • nountheory

Example

新しい説が出ました。atara shi i setsu ga de ma shi ta

A new theory has emerged.

Illustration for 説 (theory)

More examples

その説を信じる人もいます。so no setsu o shin ji ru hito mo i ma su

Some people believe that theory.

Core concept

Presents a proposed explanation or position about a matter without treating it as settled fact.

Common phrases

  • 有力な説yū ryoku na setsu

    influential theory

  • 説を唱えるsetsu o tona e ru

    propose a theory

  • 説を支持するsetsu o shi ji su ru

    support a theory

Similar words

理論riron: An organized set of ideas that explains how something works.
意見iken: A view about a matter that a person presents as their own judgment.

Definition in Japanese

ある事柄を説明するために立てた考えや主張。a ru koto gara o setsu mei su ru ta me ni ta te ta kanga e ya shu chō

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese noun 説 (setsu, "theory; claim") uses the character 説 (setsu, "to explain; to state an idea"), whose meaning developed from explaining or presenting an idea.

Usage tips

  • Japanese 説 (setsu) can frame an idea as open to discussion, so it does not always carry the scientific sense often associated with English theory.

Other meanings

  • claimnoun

Word lists with this word