Translation and Meaning of: 小説 - shousetsu

The Japanese word 小説[しょうせつ] is a fascinating term that carries deep meanings and a rich cultural history. If you are studying Japanese or simply interested in the language, understanding what this word represents can open doors to a broader understanding of literature and artistic expression in Japan. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, everyday usage, and even some curiosities that make 小説 such a special word.

In addition to being a common word in the Japanese vocabulary, 小説 also reflects important aspects of the country's culture. Whether in books, animes, or everyday conversations, it appears frequently and in various contexts. Let's dive into these details and discover how this word can be useful for those who want to truly learn Japanese.

The meaning and origin of 小説

The word 小説 is made up of two kanji: 小 (small) and 説 (explanation, theory). Together, they form the term that means "novel" or "literary fiction" in Japanese. Unlike other types of writing, such as essays or poetry, 小説 specifically refers to long or short narratives that tell invented stories or those based on real events, but with fictional elements.

The use of 小説 dates back to the Meiji period (1868-1912), when Japan underwent significant cultural and social transformations. It was during this time that Western literature began to strongly influence Japanese writers, leading to the emergence of a new style of narrative. Before this, traditional forms such as monogatari (物語) were more common, but 小説 eventually became the standard term for modern fictional works.

How 小説 is used in everyday Japanese life

In Japan, 小説 is a word widely used in both formal and informal contexts. You can find it in bookstores, where the shelves are divided between 小説 (fiction) and ノンフィクション (non-fiction). It is also common to see the term in discussions about literature, whether in schools or on TV programs that debate recent works.

An interesting curiosity is that many animes and mangas based on light novels (ライトノベル) are adaptations of 小説. These works, although often aimed at a younger audience, are still classified as literary fiction. This shows how flexible the term is and encompasses different genres and styles within Japanese culture.

Tips for memorizing and using 小説 correctly

If you are learning Japanese, a good way to memorize 小説 is to associate it with its meaning in Portuguese. Think of "small narrative" (小 = small, 説 = narrative) to remember that it refers to a fictional story. Another tip is to practice with real examples, such as sentences like "この小説は面白いです" (This novel is interesting).

Additionally, it's worth exploring famous works of 小説 to better understand how the word is applied. Authors like Haruki Murakami and Natsume Sōseki are great examples of writers who produced classics of Japanese literature in this format. The more familiar you become with the context in which the word appears, the more natural your learning will be.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 物語 (Monogatari) - History, narrative; often refers to tales or legends.
• ノベル (Noberu) - Novel; a type of literary work in prose that can encompass various genres.
• フィクション (Fikushon) - Fiction; refers to invented works that are not based on real facts.

小説

Romaji: shousetsu
Kana: しょうせつ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n4

Translation / Meaning: romance; history

Meaning in English: novel;story

Definition: A literary work that depicts a fictional or real event as a story.

Example Sentences - (小説) shousetsu

See below some example sentences:

描写は小説や詩において非常に重要な要素です。

Miyashou wa shousetsu ya shi ni oite hijou ni juuyou na youso desu

The description is a very important element in novels and poems.

Description is a very important factor in novels and poems.

• 描写 (byousha) - Description
• 小説 (shousetsu) - romance, fiction
• 詩 (shi) - poetry
• において (ni oite) - in, within
• 非常に (hijou ni) - extremely
• 重要な (juuyou na) - important
• 要素 (yousu) - element
• です (desu) - is

この小説の粗筋を教えてください。

Kono shousetsu no sosujin wo oshiete kudasai

Please tell me the synopsis of this novel.

Please tell me the approximate line of this novel.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that indicates something close to the speaker
• 小説 - noun meaning "novel" or "fictional story"
• の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 粗筋 - noun meaning "outline" or "basic summary"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 教えて - verb meaning "teach" or "inform"
• ください - expression indicating a polite request

この小説の作者は誰ですか？

Kono shousetsu no sakusha wa dare desu ka?

Who is the author of this novel?

• この - demonstrative "this"
• 小説 - noun "romance"
• の - possessive particle "of"
• 作者 - noun "author"
• は - topic particle "は"
• 誰 - interrogative pronoun "who"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form
• か - interrogative particle "?"

この小説は名作だと思います。

Kono shousetsu wa meisaku da to omoimasu

I think this novel is a masterpiece.

I think this novel is a masterpiece.

• この - demonstrative "this"
• 小説 - noun "romance/novel"
• は - Topic particle
• 名作 - noun "masterpiece"
• だ - verb "to be" in the affirmative form
• と - Quote particle
• 思います - verb "think" in the polite form

この作家の小説はとても面白いです。

Kono sakka no shousetsu wa totemo omoshiroi desu

This writer's novel is very interesting.

• この - demonstrative indicating proximity, in this case "this"
• 作家 - noun that means "writer"
• の - particle indicating possession, in this case "of"
• 小説 - noun that means "romance" or "novel"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "about"
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 面白い - adjective meaning "interesting" or "fun"
• です - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite form of the present, in this case, "é"

この小説は長編です。

Kono shousetsu wa chouhen desu

This novel is a feature film.

• この - this
• 小説 - romance, history
• は - Topic particle
• 長編 - long novel
• です - to be

推理小説が好きです。

Suiri shousetsu ga suki desu

I like mystery novels.

I like the reasoning novel.

• 推理小説 - literary genre of mystery and suspense
• が - subject particle
• 好き - like
• です - verb to be in the polite form

短編小説を書くのが好きです。

Tanchen shōsetsu o kaku no ga suki desu

I like to write short stories.

I like to write short novels.

• 短編小説 - short story
• を - direct object particle
• 書く - write
• の - Noun particle
• が - subject particle
• 好き - like
• です - verb ser/ estar in the present polite

私は小説を書くのが好きです。

Watashi wa shousetsu wo kaku no ga suki desu

I like writing novels.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun meaning "I".
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I".
• 小説 - Japanese noun that means "romance" or "novel".
• を - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "to write."
• 書く - Japanese verb that means "to write".
• のが - Japanese particle that indicates the nominal subject function of the sentence, in this case, "to write".
• 好き - Japanese adjective that means "to like."
• です - Japanese verb that indicates the current state or action, in this case, "to like".