1.
anecdote; episode; memorable story
A short, interesting story about a real person or event, especially one that reveals character or is not widely known.
有名な逸話がある。
There is a famous anecdote.
この人物には面白い逸話が数多く残っている。
Many interesting anecdotes remain about this person.
歴史の教科書には載っていないが、当時の様子を伝える逸話が地元に語り継がれている。
Though not in the history textbooks, anecdotes conveying the atmosphere of that era have been passed down locally.
Refers to brief, revealing stories about real people or events. More literary than エピソード, which is used more casually.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 逸話が残る (anecdotes remain)
- 逸話を紹介する (introduce an anecdote)
- 有名な逸話 (a famous anecdote)
- 逸話に事欠かない (no shortage of anecdotes)
Often used in biographies, history writing, and documentary narration. The word carries a positive nuance, suggesting stories that are charming, revealing, or worth telling.