1.
word of mouth; oral tradition; passing on by telling
Information or tradition passed from person to person through speech rather than in writing. Can refer to both casual information spreading and the preservation of cultural knowledge through oral tradition.
口伝えで広まった。
It spread by word of mouth.
この伝説は口伝えで伝わってきた。
This legend has been passed down through oral tradition.
あのレストランは口伝えで評判が広がり、いつも満席だ。
That restaurant's reputation spread by word of mouth, and it's always full.
Compound of 口 (mouth) and 伝え (transmission). Refers to the spreading of information or traditions through spoken communication.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 口伝えで広まる: to spread by word of mouth
- 口伝えで伝わる: to be passed down orally
- 口伝えに聞く: to hear through word of mouth
- 口伝えの情報: information by word of mouth
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 口伝え: word of mouth — general oral transmission
- 口コミ: word-of-mouth reviews — modern term, especially for online reviews and recommendations
- 言い伝え: tradition, legend — a story passed down through generations
- 伝聞: hearsay — more formal, used in legal and journalistic contexts
NOTE:
In modern Japanese, 口コミ (abbreviation of 口コミュニケーション) has largely replaced 口伝え in everyday contexts like restaurant and product recommendations. 口伝え is more commonly used for historical or cultural oral traditions.