This word means 'so-called'. You use it before a common name or idea. It helps everyone understand what you mean.
いわゆる + NounPrimary
This word means 'so-called'. You use it before a common name or idea. It helps everyone understand what you mean.
この絵画は、いわゆる「印象派」のスタイルを代表する作品です。
This painting is a work that represents the style of what is known as the 'Impressionist school'.
彼は、いわゆる「バブル世代」で、その時代の恩恵を大いに受けた。
He is from the so-called 'Bubble Generation' and greatly benefited from that era.
私は、会社でいわゆる「エリートコース」を歩んでいるわけではない。
It's not that I'm on the so-called 'elite track' at my company.
我が家の猫は、いわゆる「ツンデレ」で、甘えてきたかと思うとすぐにどこかへ行ってしまう。
Our cat is what you'd call 'tsundere'; one moment it's being affectionate, and the next it's gone.
AIが人間の知能を超える、いわゆる「シンギュラリティ」は本当に来るのだろうか。
I wonder if the so-called 'Singularity', where AI surpasses human intelligence, will really come.
Sometimes, "いわゆる" is like saying "so-called" in English. It shows you think the word is common but maybe not perfect. You might feel it's too simple or not quite right.
Different from "tsumari" or "yousuru ni" because those words rephrase something. "Iwayuru" gives a name to something. It does not explain it again.
Don't use this when you want to end a sentence. It must always come before a noun. For example, you cannot say "He is called a genius" with いわゆる at the end.
Track your mastery
Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.