Word Detail

The Japanese word 伝説 [densetsu] means "legend," "tradition," or "lore." It refers to a story or group of stories from the past that are believed to be true, often involving extraordinary people, events, or feats. 伝説 can also imply a famous person or thing. It's often passed down through generations and may be embellished over time. The core meaning always revolves around something that is widely known and remembered, often with a hint of something remarkable or even supernatural.

⚫︎その侍は、剣術の伝説だ。 Translation: That samurai is a legend of swordsmanship. ⚫︎伝説の生き物について学びましょう。 Translation: Let's learn about legendary creatures. ⚫︎彼は音楽界の伝説です。 Translation: He is a legend in the music world.

You can use 伝説 when talking about well-known stories, mythical creatures, historical figures, or anyone or anything that has achieved great fame or importance and is widely talked about. It is suitable for formal and informal contexts. It's a common word, so you can use it frequently.

伝説 is primarily written with the kanji 伝説. The reading in hiragana is でんせつ. There is no other notable way to write it. The okurigana is fixed.

⚫︎神話 (しんわ - mythology) ⚫︎物語 (ものがたり - story) ⚫︎言い伝え (いいつたえ - tradition, folklore) ⚫︎偉人 (いじん - great person, legend)

There aren't direct antonyms because it describes a certain type of story or figure. However, a term that contrasts the idea of a long-standing, well-known story would be something more recent or forgotten.

富士山は日本の伝説的な山です。 ・Translation: Mount Fuji is a legendary mountain in Japan. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 伝説 to describe the famous and symbolic status of Mount Fuji.

その作家は、ミステリー小説の伝説として知られています。 ・Translation: That author is known as a legend of mystery novels. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the author's legendary status in the genre.

The word 伝説 is formed from two kanji. 伝 (でん - den) means "to transmit" or "to convey," and 説 (せつ - setsu) means "theory," "story," or "explanation." Thus, 伝説 literally means "to transmit stories" or "to convey accounts," which accurately reflects its meaning.