物語(ものがたり)

ものがたり
noun
tale, story
1. tale, story, legend
A narrative, especially a traditional or fictional one.
物語(ものがたり)を読(よ)む。
To read a story.
この物語(ものがたり)はとても面白(おもしろ)い。
This story is very interesting.
子供(こども)に寝(ね)る前(まえ)に物語(ものがたり)を読(よ)んであげた。
I read a story to the child before bed.
この映画(えいが)は実話(じつわ)に基(もと)づいた感動(かんどう)的(てき)な物語(ものがたり)だ。
This movie is a moving story based on a true story.
『源氏(げんじ)物語(ものがたり)』は千年(せんねん)以上(いじょう)前(まえ)に書(か)かれた作品(さくひん)だが、今(いま)でも多(おお)くの人(ひと)に読(よ)まれている。
The Tale of Genji was written over a thousand years ago, but it is still read by many people today.

物語(ものがたり) means a tale, story, or narrative. It has a literary and somewhat elevated tone compared to 話(はなし) (story, talk).

ETYMOLOGY:
物(もの) (thing) + 語(かた)り (telling), from the verb 語(かた)る (to tell, to narrate).

FAMOUS WORKS:

  • 源氏(げんじ)物語(ものがたり): The Tale of Genji
  • 竹取(たけとり)物語(ものがたり): The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter
  • 平家(へいけ)物語(ものがたり): The Tale of the Heike

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 物語(ものがたり)を語(かた)る: to tell a story
  • 物語(ものがたり)が展開(てんかい)する: a story unfolds
  • ～物語(ものがたり): a tale of ~ (used in titles)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 話(はなし): story, talk (casual, everyday)
  • 物語(ものがたり): tale, narrative (literary, structured)
  • 小説(しょうせつ): novel (specifically published fiction)

Related Words

Contrast: 話(はなし) (story (everyday))
core
Added 2026.1.13 1:58 · Revised 2026.4.2 20:57
03500/03634_monogatari