大 衆 文 学(たいしゅうぶんがく)

たいしゅうぶんがく

noun

popular fiction; mass-market literature

1. popular fiction; mass-market literature; entertainment literature

Literature aimed at a broad general audience for entertainment, as opposed to highbrow or literary fiction. Includes genres such as mystery, historical fiction, romance, and adventure.

大衆文学(たいしゅうぶんがく)は幅広(はばひろ)い読者(どくしゃ)に親(した)しまれている。

Popular fiction is enjoyed by a wide range of readers.

推理小説(すいりしょうせつ)や時代小説(じだいしょうせつ)は大衆文学(たいしゅうぶんがく)に分類(ぶんるい)される。

Mystery novels and period novels are classified as popular fiction.

純文学(じゅんぶんがく)と大衆文学(たいしゅうぶんがく)の境界(きょうかい)は年々(ねんねん)曖昧(あいまい)になってきている。

The boundary between literary fiction and popular fiction has become increasingly blurred over the years.

Cultural note

In Japanese literary circles, 大衆文学(たいしゅうぶんがく) is distinguished from 純文学(じゅんぶんがく) (literary fiction). The 直木賞(なおきしょう) (Naoki Prize) is awarded for the best work of popular fiction, while the 芥川賞(あくたがわしょう) (Akutagawa Prize) is for literary fiction. Major authors include 松本清張(まつもとせいちょう) and 東野圭吾(ひがしのけいご).

Common collocations

大衆文学(たいしゅうぶんがく)の作家(さっか) (popular fiction writer)
大衆文学(たいしゅうぶんがく)と純文学(じゅんぶんがく) (popular fiction and literary fiction)

Similar words

純文学(じゅんぶんがく): literary fiction — works focused on artistic expression rather than entertainment
エンターテインメント小説(しょうせつ): entertainment fiction — a more recent synonym

Related Words

Antonym: 純文学(じゅんぶんがく) (literary fiction)

Compare: 通俗文学(つうぞくぶんがく) (popular literature)

general

Added 2026.3.13 12:52 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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