1.
colloquial style; spoken-language writing style
A style of writing that uses modern spoken Japanese grammar and vocabulary, as opposed to the classical literary style (文語体). In Japanese linguistics, this refers specifically to the modern language style that became standard after the Meiji-era language reforms.
この小説は口語体で書かれている。
This novel is written in colloquial style.
明治時代に口語体の文学が広まった。
Literature in the colloquial style spread during the Meiji period.
口語体と文語体の違いを理解することは、日本語の歴史を学ぶ上で重要だ。
Understanding the difference between colloquial and literary styles is important for studying the history of Japanese.
Composed of 口語 (spoken language) + 体 (style/form). This is a key term in Japanese linguistics and literary history, referring to the writing style based on modern spoken Japanese.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
Before the Meiji period, written Japanese (文語体) was very different from spoken Japanese. The 言文一致 (unification of speech and writing) movement in the late 19th century promoted writing in the same style as speech, leading to the dominance of 口語体 in modern Japanese.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 口語体で書く: to write in colloquial style
- 口語体の文章: colloquial-style writing
- 口語体と文語体: colloquial and literary styles
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 文語体: literary/classical style — the contrasting style based on classical Japanese grammar
- 口語: spoken language — the language itself, not the writing style
- 話し言葉: spoken language — more everyday term, less technical