例(たと)え話(ばなし)

たとえばなし

noun

parable; allegory; illustrative story

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

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