Posted inN2 Grammar

Unpacking いわゆる (iwawaru): Understanding “So-Called” in Japanese

Posted inN2 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

To introduce a term, concept, or person that is commonly known by a specific name or description.

🎯 Primary Function

To indicate that the following noun or noun phrase is a commonly used name or label, often implying it is a “so-called” or “what is called” version.

📋 Grammar Structure

いわゆる + [Noun / Noun Phrase]

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Frequently used in formal discussions, articles, and presentations to introduce terms that might be specific jargon, slang, or popular labels.

😊 Informal Situations

Less common in very casual conversation, but can be used. The nuance might feel slightly formal depending on context.

✍️ Written Language

Very common in articles, essays, news reports, and academic texts.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used in lectures, interviews, formal speeches, and when explaining complex topics or cultural phenomena.

💡 Common Applications

Introducing cultural or social phenomena
Used to introduce concepts or groups that have a popular name.
Example: いわゆる「クールジャパン」は、アニメや漫画などの日本の文化を指します。 (The “Cool Japan,” so-called, refers to Japanese culture like anime and manga.)
Referring to specific types or categories
Used to label a particular type of thing that is commonly identified by that label.
Example: これは、いわゆる「ブラック企業」と呼ばれる会社です。 (This is a company called a “black company,” so-called [a company with exploitative labor practices]).
Referring to well-known individuals or groups
Used to identify people or groups by their common appellation.
Example: 彼は、いわゆる天才プログラマーとして知られています。 (He is known as a so-called genius programmer.)
📊
Frequency
Moderately frequent, especially in written and formal spoken contexts when discussing specific topics or labels.
🎚️
Difficulty
N2 – Understanding the nuance of “so-called” rather than “truly” or “genuinely” is key.
Example Sentences
現代社会では、いわゆる「働き方改革」が進められています。
In modern society, so-called “work style reforms” are being promoted.
これは、いわゆる伝統工芸品です。
This is what is commonly called a traditional craft.
彼は、学生時代はいわゆる問題児でした。
He was a so-called problem child during his student days.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

“So-called” vs. “Truly”
いわゆる does not mean the noun that follows is genuinely that thing, but rather that it is commonly *referred to* as that. It indicates the common name or label.
Example: いわゆる「健康食品」が全て本当に健康に良いとは限りません。 (So-called “health foods” are not necessarily all truly good for your health.)
Nuance of Distance or Skepticism
Depending on context, いわゆる can sometimes subtly imply that the speaker is using the term because it’s common, but might have reservations about its accuracy, appropriateness, or the phenomenon itself.
Example: 彼はいわゆるインフルエンサーだが、その影響力は疑問だ。 (He is a so-called influencer, but his influence is questionable.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using いわゆる when you mean “truly” or “genuinely”.
✅ Use 正真正銘 (shoushin shoumei), 本当の (hontou no), or other similar terms instead.
いわゆる refers to the common name or label, not the inherent nature of something.
❌ Using いわゆる with universally accepted, official terms where no clarification of “common name” is needed.
✅ Omit いわゆる when referring to standard, undisputed terms.
いわゆる is for terms that are *called* something, implying potential alternative names or a focus on the popular label.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Can be used in polite, formal, and semi-formal contexts. It doesn’t inherently raise or lower politeness but adds a specific nuance to the term being introduced.
Social Situations: Useful when discussing social trends, cultural phenomena, specific professional fields, or group dynamics where certain terms are commonly used.
Regional Variations: Usage of いわゆる itself is standard across Japan, but the specific terms it precedes may vary regionally or culturally.

🔍 Subtle Differences

いわゆる vs. 〜と言われている (~to iwarete iru)
いわゆる directly modifies the noun (いわゆるA = A which is called…). 〜と言われている is a verb phrase used to describe something (Bは〜と言われている = B is said to be…).
When to use: Use いわゆる when you want to label the noun itself with its common name. Use 〜と言われている when you want to state that something is *said to be* a certain way.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

いわゆる is a set adjectival phrase and does not conjugate.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounced as いわゆる (iwawaru). Pay attention to the subtle nuance in intonation depending on whether you are using it neutrally or with slight reservation.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of it as adding quotation marks around the following term to indicate “this is what it’s called”. Associate いわゆる with “quotation marks for words”.

Vocabulary List
いわゆる
iwawaru
so-called, what is called
現代社会
gendai shakai
modern society
働き方改革
hatarakikata kaikaku
work style reform
伝統工芸品
dentou kougeihin
traditional craft
問題児
mondaiji
problem child
インターネット上
intaanetto jou
on the internet
炎上
flaming, online uproar
Kanji List
厳
いわ
strict, severe (used in いわゆる)
現
げん
present, current (現代)
代
だい
age, period (現代)
社
しゃ
company, society (社会)
会
かい
meeting, association (社会)
働
はたら（く）
to work (働き方)
方
かた
way of, method (働き方)
改
かい
reform, change (改革)
革
かく
revolution, leather (改革)
伝
でん
transmit, tradition (伝統)
統
とう
regulate, command (伝統)
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to fill in the blank: 彼は＿＿＿「ミニマリスト」として、物が少ない生活を送っている。
本当に
いわゆる
そして
しかし
Which sentence correctly uses いわゆる?
富士山はいわゆる高い山です。
いわゆる新しい携帯を買いました。
いわゆる「草食系男子」は、恋愛に積極的でない男性を指す言葉です。
私は日本語がいわゆる上手です。
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