How to Say "Myth" in Japanese

神話

shinwa[ɕĩɰ̃β̞a̠]

The Japanese word for myth is 神話 (shinwa).

神話 refers to a commonly-held but false belief.

Meaning: commonly-held but false belief (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The word is composed of the characters 神 (god/deity) and 話 (story/talk).

shinwa

The character 神 (shin) in 神話 can be read as 'kami', which refers to the myriad spirits of Shintoism rather than a single omnipotent creator god.
While 神話 refers to myths, the word 伝説 (densetsu) is used for 'legends'. In Japanese culture, 伝説 is often used more casually in pop culture to describe someone who is a 'legend' in their field.
While 神話 (shinwa) refers to grand myths of gods, the word 迷信 (meishin) is more commonly used for the 'myths' or false beliefs people hold in daily life, such as superstition.

大銀行は潰れないという神話は崩れた。
The myth of immortality of big banks has collapsed.
This sentence illustrates the use of 神話 regarding the collapse of a belief about big banks.
Wiktionary
建国神話
A myth of the national foundation, a founding myth
This example shows the phrase used in the context of a founding myth.
Wiktionary
それは、無関心層の神話を拒否した若者-家と家族から離れ、賃金が安く、睡眠時間も短い仕事をする-からの強さを育てた。
It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy … who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.
This sentence shows 神話 being used to describe a generation's widely held belief or perception.
Tatoeba #330753 by sugisaki, translation #330437 by sugisaki
日本の神話は非常に興味深いです。
Japanese myths are very fascinating.
王の伝説は、この町の歴史に深く関わっています。
The legend of the king deeply relates to the history of this town.

Two siblings are talking about a common health belief.

陽葵 Himari

この健康法はただの神話だよ。
Kono kenkouhou wa tada no shinwa dayo.
This health method is just a myth.
陽太 Yota

えっ、本当は効果がないの？
E, hontou wa kouka ga nai no?
What, does it actually not work?
陽葵 Himari

うん、科学的な根拠はないんだって。
Un, kagakuteki na konkyo wa nain datte.
Yeah, they say there is no scientific basis for it.
陽太 Yota

みんな信じているから不思議だね。
Minna shinjite iru kara fushigi dane.
It's strange that everyone believes it.

Sources

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