“〜ni nazoraete”: To Liken To / Compare To (using B to depict A) [JLPT N1]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

Explaining one thing by comparing it to another

「人生を旅になぞらえて」 — likening A to a similar B to explain it

Literature and criticism often explain the abstract through a familiar comparison — 「人生を旅になぞらえて語る (speaking of life by likening it to a journey).」 「〜になぞらえて」 = likening (A) to, comparing (A) to (B). It's a formal, refined figurative expression, likening A to a similar B to make the abstract clear and elegant. This guide clarifies the 「AをBになぞらえて」 structure and its particles, its written-literary register, and separating it from the physical-imitation 「似せる」 and the general 「にたとえて.」

Core: likening A to a similar B (to explain)

「（A を）B になぞらえて」 means “likening A to, comparing A to B” — using a similar, familiar B to figure, explain A:

• 人生を旅になぞらえて、その意味を語った (likened life to a journey and spoke of its meaning).
• 四季の移ろいを、人の一生になぞらえる (liken the turning of the seasons to a human lifetime).
• 社会を一つの生き物になぞらえて考えてみる (try thinking of society by likening it to a living creature).

Feel: the core is “using a similar B to figure A,” making the abstract, complex clear and elegant through a familiar comparison. It's a formal, refined, discursive expression, common in literature, criticism, speeches, academic writing (life as a journey, the seasons as a lifetime, society as a miniature garden). In English: “liken ～ to, compare ～ to, figure ～ as.” 「なぞらえる」's original sense is “to model on, to liken.”

Attachment rules

Examples in context

• 作者は主人公の孤独を、荒野になぞらえて描いた。(The author depicted the protagonist's solitude by likening it to a wilderness.)
• 経済の動きを、生き物の呼吸になぞらえる論者もいる。(Some theorists liken economic movement to a creature's breathing.)
• 恋の始まりを、春の芽吹きになぞらえた詩。(A poem likening the start of love to spring's budding.)
• 会社組織を、一つの家族になぞらえて説明する。(Explain a company's structure by likening it to a family.)
• 彼の生涯は、しばしば一本の大河になぞらえられる。(His life is often likened to a great river.)

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① ⭐Particles: A takes 「を,」 B takes 「に」 — don't misapply “把” as 「は／が.」 This is Chinese speakers' most typical error. The “把” of Chinese “把人生比作旅程 (liken life to a journey)” easily leads to marking A (life) as 「は」 or 「が」 — a common error 「人生は旅になぞらえて」「人生が旅になぞらえて.」 But the correct structure is “A を B になぞらえて” — A (the subject figured) must take 「を,」 B (the thing compared to) takes 「に」: 人生を旅になぞらえて (liken life to a journey), 四季を人生になぞらえる. Mnemonic: “把 A” = A を; “比作 B” = B に. Test: when using 「になぞらえて,」 first confirm A takes 「を」 and B takes 「に,」 not marking A as は／が under Chinese “把”'s influence.

② ⭐It's a written, literary expression — not for everyday speech. This is an important register reminder. 「になぞらえて」 is a written, literary expression, with a refined, discursive feel, common in essays, speech drafts, criticism, academic writing. In everyday chat it's almost never used — for “like ～,” friends naturally say 「〜みたいな」「〜みたいに」「〜っぽい,」 not 「になぞらえて」 (forcing it sounds stiff, affected). Also, 「になぞらえて」 is a narrative, explanatory expression, not for commands, requests, greetings. Test: for essays, speech drafts, literary criticism, use 「になぞらえて」 freely; for everyday conversation, casual messages → use 「みたいな／みたいに」 more naturally.

③ Separate it from 「似せる」 — なぞらえる is an abstract verbal comparison, 似せる is physically making something resemble. Both might be “make it like ～” in Chinese, but mean entirely differently. 「（A を B に）なぞらえる」 = liken A to B (an abstract, verbal／narrative comparison): 人生を旅になぞらえる (liken life to a journey — a verbal, conceptual comparison, life and journey don't literally become the same thing). 「（A を B に）似せる」 = make A resemble B (a physical, visual imitation): 本物に似せて作る (make it resemble the real thing — a physical, material imitation, actually making something that looks alike): 模型を実物に似せて塗装する (paint a model to resemble the real object). Difference: 「なぞらえる」 is an abstract figure, likening (verbally, narratively saying A is like B); 「似せる」 is a physical imitation (actually making something that looks like B). Test: to verbally, conceptually “liken, figure” A as B → なぞらえる; to physically, materially “make resemble, imitate” something as B → 似せる. The two aren't interchangeable.

④ Separate it from 「にたとえて」 — なぞらえて is more written, refined; にたとえて is more general. Both mean “liken／figure ～ as,” very close, differing in register. 「〜になぞらえて」 = liken ～ to ～ (formal, refined, discursive, more written): 人生を旅になぞらえて (liken life to a journey — refined, discursive). It's more written, elegant, mostly for literature, criticism, academia. 「〜にたとえて」 = figure ～ as ～ (general, spoken and written): 人生を旅にたとえて (figure life as a journey), 彼の速さをチーターにたとえる (figure his speed as a cheetah's). It's more general, everyday, common in speech and writing. Difference: 「なぞらえて」 more written, refined, discursive (stressing “modeling on, correspondence”); 「たとえて」 more general, everyday (a plain “drawing an analogy”). Test: for a formal, refined, discursive likening → になぞらえて; for a general “drawing an analogy, figuring ～ as ～” → にたとえて.

🔄 Compare: になぞらえて／にたとえて／を例に／似せる

💡 The one thing to remember

「〜になぞらえて」 = likening (A) to, comparing (A) to (B) — four points: ①⭐the particles are “A を B になぞらえて” — A takes を, B takes に, don't mark A as は／が under Chinese “把”'s influence; ②⭐it's a written, literary expression (essays／speeches／criticism／academia), while spoken “like ～” uses 「みたいな／みたいに」; ③ separate it from 「似せる (physically making something resemble)」 — なぞらえる is an abstract verbal comparison; ④ separate it from 「にたとえて (general)」 — になぞらえて is more written, refined. This is an expression of real literary, discursive elegance — likening the abstract life, society, emotion to a familiar journey, great river, creature makes the complex clear and resonant. To elegantly “liken A to B” in criticism or a speech, 「になぞらえて」 is far classier than the colloquial 「みたいに」; but for everyday chat use 「みたいな」 — don't make small talk sound like a thesis.

❓ Questions you might have

Q: For “liken life to a journey,” is it 「人生は旅になぞらえて」 or 「人生を旅になぞらえて」?

Correct is 「人生を旅になぞらえて」 — A takes 「を,」 not 「は／が.」 This is Chinese speakers' commonest particle error. The “把” of Chinese “把人生比作旅程” easily leads to marking “life” as the subject 「は／が,」 but 「になぞらえて」's correct structure is “A を B になぞらえて” — the subject figured, A, takes 「を,」 the thing compared to, B, takes 「に」: 人生 (A) を 旅 (B) に なぞらえて. So:

• ✗ 人生は旅になぞらえて (wrong, A can't take は)
• ✗ 人生が旅になぞらえて (wrong, A can't take が)
• ○ 人生を旅になぞらえて (correct)

Memory trick: Chinese “把 A” corresponds to Japanese “A を,” “比作 B” to “B に.” On seeing Chinese “把,” think Japanese “を.” So “liken society to a creature” = 社会を生き物になぞらえて, “liken the seasons to a lifetime” = 四季を人生になぞらえて. Test: when using 「になぞらえて,」 A always takes 「を」 (not は／が), B takes 「に,」 preceding nouns.

Q: What's the difference between 「になぞらえて」 and 「にたとえて」? Both ‘liken to'?

Very close in meaning (both “liken／figure ～ as ～”), differing in register, refinement. 「〜になぞらえて」 = liken ～ to ～ (formal, refined, discursive, more written): it's more written, elegant, discursive; 「なぞらえる」's original sense is “to model on, liken, correspond,” the feel being to model, map A onto a similar B, likening it solemnly. Mostly for literature, criticism, speeches, academia: 人生を旅になぞらえてその意味を論じる (liken life to a journey to discuss its meaning — refined, discursive), 組織を生態系になぞらえる (liken an organization to an ecosystem). 「〜にたとえて」 = figure ～ as ～ (general, spoken and written): it's more general, everyday, a plain “drawing an analogy,” common in speech and writing, less stiff: 先生は勉強を山登りにたとえて説明した (the teacher explained studying by figuring it as mountain climbing), 彼の優しさを太陽にたとえる (figure his kindness as the sun). Difference: 「なぞらえて」 more written, refined, discursive (a solemn modeling, likening, mostly for literature／criticism／academia); 「たとえて」 more general, everyday (a plain analogy, spoken and written). Test: for a formal, refined, discursive setting, to solemnly “liken A to B” → になぞらえて; to everyday “draw an analogy, figure ～ as ～” → にたとえて. Both are more formal than the colloquial 「みたいに,」 but 「なぞらえて」 is a notch more written-refined than 「たとえて.」

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「四季を人の一生___語る。」(Comparing the four seasons to a human life)

(A) になぞらえて　(B) によって　(C) において　(D) にとって

Q2. 「人生を旅になぞらえる」の意味は?

(A) Likening life to a journey

(B) Going on a life trip

(C) Hating travel

(D) Life is a travel agency

Q3. 「Aを Bになぞらえて」の構造で、比喻の対象は?

(A) B (use B to represent A)

(B) A

(C) Neither

(D) No metaphor

Q4. 「になぞらえて」の文体は?

(A) Somewhat formal and solemn

(B) Children's colloquial speech

(C) Internet slang

(D) Imperative language

Q5. 接法が正しいのは?

(A) 山になぞらえて困難を語る。　(B) 山をなぞらえてに。

(C) 山だになぞらえて。　(D) 山になぞらえてを困難。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) になぞらえて ── Comparing the four seasons to a human life.

2. (A) ── Likening life to a journey.

3. (A) B ── Use B to represent A.

4. (A) ── Somewhat formal and solemn.

5. (A) ── 「山になぞらえて」 is correct.