例(たと)え話(ばなし)

たとえばなし
noun
parable; allegory; illustrative story
language
1. parable; allegory; fable; illustrative story
A story or analogy used to explain or illustrate a point. The story itself serves as a comparison or metaphor for the real topic.
例(たと)え話(ばなし)で説明(せつめい)する。
Explain using a parable.
先生(せんせい)は難(むずか)しい概念(がいねん)を例(たと)え話(ばなし)で分(わ)かりやすく教(おし)えてくれた。
The teacher used parables to make difficult concepts easy to understand.
あまりにも例(たと)え話(ばなし)が多(おお)いと、かえって本題(ほんだい)が見(み)えなくなることがある。
If there are too many analogies, they can actually obscure the main point.

Usage

例(たと)え話(ばなし) refers to any story or comparison used to illustrate a point. It is commonly used in teaching, speeches, and everyday conversation when someone explains something through analogy.

Common collocations

  • 例(たと)え話(ばなし)を使(つか)う (to use an analogy)
  • 例(たと)え話(ばなし)で言(い)うと (to put it in terms of an analogy)
  • 上手(うま)い例(たと)え話(ばなし) (a good analogy)

Writing

Also written as 喩(たと)え話(ばなし) or たとえ話(ばなし). The 例(たと)え spelling is the most common.

general
Added 2026.3.7 18:34 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
15500/15528_tatoebanashi