Meaning & usage
いわば means so to speak or figuratively and signals that what follows is a metaphorical restatement rather than a literal description. It is an independent adverb that is placed before a noun phrase such as 本の虫 or 家族の一員. It is common in formal explanation and is normally written in hiragana. It should not be used to introduce a literal fact or a direct quotation.
Example sentences 5
-
私の父はいわば学者ばかだ。
My father is, so to speak, a learned fool.
-
彼は、いわば、本の虫だ。
He is, so to speak, a bookworm.
-
この犬は言わばうちの家族の一員だ。
This dog is, so to speak, a member of our family.
-
彼はいわば学者ばかだ。
He is, so to speak, a learned fool.
-
私たちの先生は、いわば、生き字引だ。
Our teacher is, as it were, a walking dictionary.
