“iwayuru / iwaba” Meaning — So-called / So to Speak [JLPT N2]

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

“The so-called winners,” “like family, so to speak” — quoting a term vs making an analogy, with examples. (JLPT N2)

「彼は、いわゆる『天才』だ」 vs 「彼は、いわば会社の顔だ」 — quoting a common label vs drawing an analogy

「あの人は、いわゆる『仕事人間』だ」 (that person is a so-called ‘workaholic') ／ 「この駅は、いわば街の玄関口だ」 (this station is, so to speak, the city's gateway) — 「いわゆる」 = “so-called ～” (quoting a common label everyone uses); 「いわば」 = “so to speak, as it were ～” (drawing an analogy, rephrasing). One character apart, different uses. This guide sorts out 「いわゆる (quoting a common label)」 and 「いわば (drawing an analogy)」 (N2).

Core: いわゆる = so-called (common label)／いわば = so to speak (analogy)

Both “rephrase to point something out,” but in different directions:

• いわゆる ＋ noun = so-called ～ (quoting the common label everyone uses): これが、いわゆる「ブラック企業」だ (this is a so-called “black company”).
• いわば = so to speak, as it were ～ (drawing an analogy or general characterization to explain): 社長は、いわばチームの司令塔だ (the president is, so to speak, the team's command tower).

Feel: “so-called …／so to speak …” — 「いわゆる」 is “that … (that everyone calls it),” quoting a ready-made common label (followed by a noun); 「いわば」 is “if I were to draw an analogy/put it another way, it's …,” explaining with an analogy or characterization (＝ 言ってみれば). Common in formal and written contexts too.

Uses & distinction

Examples in context

• この病気は、いわゆる「現代病」の一つだ。(This illness is one of the so-called “modern diseases.”) — quoting a label
• 彼女は、社内ではいわば生き字引だ。(In the company, she's, so to speak, a walking dictionary.) — analogy
• いわゆるエリートコースを歩んできた人だ。(He's someone who's walked the so-called elite course.) — label
• 都市の緑地は、いわば街の肺だ。(A city's green space is, so to speak, the city's lungs.) — analogy
• これがいわゆる「一石二鳥」というやつだ。(This is what's called “two birds with one stone.”) — label

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① 「いわゆる」 quotes a ‘ready-made common label,' 「いわば」 draws your own ‘analogy.' The most-confused point. いわゆる = so-called ～ (quoting a common name/label everyone uses, followed by a noun) (いわゆる「オタク」 = a so-called “otaku” — quoting this ready-made name); いわば = so to speak, as it were ～ (explaining with your own analogy/characterization, not quoting a ready-made label) (彼はいわば生き字引だ = he's, so to speak, a walking dictionary — “walking dictionary” is an analogy, not a common name). Test: followed by a ready-made name/label everyone uses = いわゆる; followed by your own on-the-spot analogy/characterization = いわば.

② 「いわゆる」 is always followed by a noun (a label). 「いわゆる」 is an adnominal, followed directly by a noun (いわゆる ＋ 「〜」), quoting that name: いわゆるエコカー (so-called eco-cars); いわゆるブランド品 (so-called brand goods). It can't stand alone as a predicate. 「いわば」 is followed by an analogy/characterization clause (いわば〜だ). Don't put 「いわゆる」 in 「いわば」's slot.

③ 「いわゆる」 carries a ‘(I'm quoting, but may not endorse) that label' distance. 「いわゆる」 often carries a “(as everyone/generally calls it, I'll quote) that so-called …” distance, quotation feel, sometimes even reservation or irony (いわゆる「専門家」の意見 = the opinion of a so-called “expert” — possibly implying “so-called only”). So 「いわゆる」 often pairs with quotation marks 「」. It quotes a circulating expression, not implying the speaker fully agrees.

🔄 Nuance & comparison: いわゆる／いわば／言ってみれば／つまり

💡 How to remember this

「いわゆる」 and 「いわば」 are one character apart but different in use: ① いわゆる = so-called ～ (quoting a common name/label everyone uses, followed by a noun) (いわゆる「ブラック企業」 = a so-called black company); ② いわば = so to speak, as it were ～ (explaining with your own analogy/characterization, ≈ 言ってみれば) (社長はいわばチームの司令塔だ). Three points: ① いわゆる quotes a ‘ready-made label' (＋ noun), いわば draws your ‘own analogy'; ② 「いわゆる」 carries distance, a quotation feel, often with 「」, sometimes reservation/irony; ③ to “put it figuratively” use いわば (≈ 言ってみれば). Grasp “いわゆる = quoting everyone's name for it, いわば = your own analogy,” and this pair won't be confused.

❓ Common questions

Q: How exactly do I tell 「いわゆる」 from 「いわば」? I keep confusing them.

Remember the core difference: 「いわゆる」 ‘quotes a ready-made common name,' 「いわば」 ‘draws your own analogy to explain.' 「いわゆる ＋ noun」 = so-called ～ (quoting a ‘common name/label everyone/society uses,' followed directly by that noun): これがいわゆる「マタニティハラスメント」だ (this is so-called “maternity harassment” — quoting this circulating term); 彼はいわゆる「二世タレント」だ (he's a so-called “second-generation celebrity” — quoting this label). It's followed by a ready-made name everyone uses; you're just “quoting” it, often with 「」, sometimes with a “(let's call it that)” distance or reservation. 「いわば」 = so to speak, as it were ～ (not quoting a ready-made label, but ‘drawing your own on-the-spot analogy or characterization' to explain something): この経験は、私にとっていわば宝物だ (this experience is, so to speak, a treasure to me — “treasure” is your analogy); 彼はいわばチームの心臓だ (he's, so to speak, the team's heart — “heart” is a metaphor); 東京はいわば日本の縮図だ (Tokyo is, so to speak, a microcosm of Japan). It's followed by an analogy or characterization you came up with (≈ “言ってみれば、〜のようなものだ”). Trick: followed by a ‘ready-made name everyone uses' (often with quotes) → いわゆる; followed by ‘your own analogy/characterization' (＝ so to speak like …) → いわば. E.g., 「いわゆる『天才』」 (a so-called genius — quoting the label “genius”) vs 「いわば天才だ」 (so to speak a genius — you draw the analogy that he's like a genius). One quotes a common label, one draws your own analogy — the key difference.

Q: How do 「いわば」, 「言ってみれば」, and 「つまり」 differ?

「いわば」 and 「言ってみれば」 are very close (both “to put it figuratively/another way, it's …”), while 「つまり」 leans ‘summing up, rephrasing (condensing the prior into a conclusion)' — a bit different. 「いわば」 = so to speak, as it were ～ (characterizing something with an analogy or general phrasing, with a figurative flavor): 友情は、いわば人生の宝だ (friendship is, so to speak, life's treasure — characterizing friendship with the metaphor “treasure”). It often carries a metaphor (likening A to B). 「言ってみれば」 = if you will, to put it figuratively (≈ いわば, more colloquial): この街は、言ってみれば大人のテーマパークだ (this street is, if you will, an adults' theme park — also an analogy). It's nearly interchangeable with 「いわば」, just a touch more colloquial. 「つまり」 = in other words, i.e. (condensing the prior into a clearer line, the point being ‘conclusion, restatement'): 彼は私の母の弟だ。つまり、叔父だ (he's my mother's younger brother; in other words, my uncle — condensing “mother's brother” into “uncle,” restating the same thing). It's not an analogy, but “rephrasing/summing up.” Test: to ‘draw an analogy, characterize figuratively' → いわば／言ってみれば; to ‘sum up, rephrase (condense into a conclusion)' → つまり. So 「友情はいわば宝だ」 (analogy: friendship is like a treasure) vs 「彼は母の弟、つまり叔父だ」 (restatement: he's my uncle). One draws an analogy, one restates/sums up.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「彼は___エリートコースを歩んできた。」(the so-called elite track)

(A) いわゆる　(B) いわば　(C) いかに　(D) いかにも

Q2. 「この村は、___私の第二の故郷だ。」(you could say it's my second hometown — a metaphor)

(A) いわば　(B) いわゆる　(C) いかに　(D) まさか

Q3. What comes after 「いわゆる」?

(A) A noun (citing a common term)

(B) A verb て-form

(C) A metaphorical clause

(D) A question word

Q4. What is the function of 「いわば」?

(A) To explain with a metaphor (so to speak, like)

(B) To cite a common term

(C) To show a question

(D) To show a command

Q5. Which usage is natural?

(A) これはいわば実験だ。　(B) いわば草食系男子 (followed by a noun)。

(C) いわゆる第二の故郷のようだ (a metaphor)。　(D) いわゆる行く。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) いわゆる ── The so-called elite track (followed by a noun).

2. (A) いわば ── You could say, second hometown (a metaphor).

3. (A) noun ── いわゆる＋noun.

4. (A) ── いわば explains with a metaphor.

5. (A) ── 「いわば実験だ」 (a metaphor) is correct.