直喩
chokuyu[t͡ɕo̞kɯ̟jɯ̟]
The English word 'simile' can be translated into Japanese as 直喩 (chokuyu). Wiktionary also lists 比喩 (hiyu) and シミレ (shimire).
Meaning: figure of speech in which one thing is compared to another (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 直喩 | chokuyu | [t͡ɕo̞kɯ̟jɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 比喩 | hiyu | [çijɯ̟] (narrow) |
| シミレ | shimire |
A simile is a figure of speech where one thing is compared to another.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 直喩 is composed of 直 (direct) and 喩 (metaphor/comparison). The broader term 比喩 is composed of 比 (compare) and 喩 (metaphor/comparison).
Which one should you use?
直喩 specifically refers to a simile that uses explicit comparison words like 'like' or 'as', whereas 比喩 is a broader term for any metaphor or figure of speech, including both similes and metaphors.
How do you pronounce it?
chokuyu
Did you know?
- Using the loanword シミレ in a Japanese classroom might confuse students because they are taught the Kanji-based term 比喩 instead.
- The character 喩 found in both terms is also the character used for 'to persuade' or 'to lecture' in certain contexts. This connects the idea of a comparison to the act of explaining a concept to someone.
- While 直喩 is the formal term for a simile, Japanese speakers in daily life typically use the word たとえ to refer to any kind of simile or analogy.
Examples in context
- 彼女の優しさは風のように心地よい。Her kindness is as comforting as the wind.
- その猫は夜空の星のように美しかった。That cat was as beautiful as the stars in the night sky.
- この詩は直喩を多用している。Kono shi wa chokuyu o tayou shite iru.This poem uses many similes.
- 直喩を使って表現してみましょう。Chokuyu o tsukatte hyogen shite mimashou.Let's try expressing it using a simile.
- 直喩と隠喩の違いは何ですか？Chokuyu to inyu no chigai wa nan desu ka?What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor?
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are discussing a literature assignment at a cafe.
- 結衣 Yui陽太君、この文章の直喩に気づいた？Yota-kun, kono bunsho no chokuyu ni kizuita?Yota, did you notice the simile in this text?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、とても分かりやすい直喩だね。Un, totemo wakariyasui chokuyu da ne.Yeah, it's a very easy-to-understand simile.
- 結衣 Yui表現がすごく豊かになるよね。Hyogen ga sugoku yoka ni naru yo ne.It makes the expression so rich, doesn't it?
- 陽太 Yotaそうだね。僕も使ってみたいよ。Sou da ne. Boku mo tsukatte mitai yo.That's true. I want to try using them too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “simile” translations and entries 直喩, 比喩, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
