Korean word

비유

Pronunciation

Romanizationpiyu

Meaning

  • nounmetaphor

Example

그는 비유를 자주 쓴다.keu neun pi yu reul cha ju sseun da

He often uses metaphors.

Illustration for 비유 (metaphor)

More examples

그의 말에는 좋은 비유가 많다.keu ui ma re neun cho eun pi yu ga man ta

His words contain many good metaphors.

Core concept

A subject borrows the image of something else to reveal what it is like.

Common phrases

  • 비유를 들다pi yu reul teul da

    use a metaphor

  • 비유가 풍부하다pi yu ga pung bu ha da

    be rich in metaphors

Similar words

은유eunyu: A figurative expression that presents one thing as another to show its qualities or feelings.
직유chigyu: A figurative expression that makes a comparison clear with words such as like or as.
비유법piyubeop: A language technique for expressing an idea through figurative comparison.

Definition in Korean

비유는 말이나 글에서 한 대상을 다른 대상에 빗대어 특징이나 느낌을 드러내는 표현이다.pi yu neun ma ri na keu re seo han tae sang eul ta reun tae sang e pit ttae eo teuk jjing i na neu kki meul teu reo nae neun pyo hyeo ni da

Word origin

The word comes from Sino-Korean elements meaning comparison and figurative explanation, fitting both metaphors and illustrative stories.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, a concrete everyday image usually makes this kind of expression easier to understand than an unclear image.

Other meanings

  • parablenoun

Opposites

  • 직설chiksseoldirect expressionnoun

Related words

  • 비유하다piyuhadacompare metaphoricallyverb
  • 비유법piyubeopmetaphorical expressionnoun
  • 비유적piyujeokfigurativeadjective

Word lists with this word