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いわゆる

so-called, what you'd call

いわゆる + Noun

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いわゆる introduces a term that people commonly use: 彼はいわゆる天才だ, "he's what you'd call a genius".

It's used to bring in popular labels, jargon or concepts, often ones that are a little vague or loaded: いわゆる「おもてなし」, "so-called hospitality"; いわゆるブラック企業, "what's known as an exploitative company".

Unlike English "so-called", it isn't necessarily sarcastic. It just flags the word as a common label, not the speaker's own invention.

It always comes directly before a noun. It's common in explanations, articles and essays. Compare つまり ("in other words"), which rephrases rather than labels.

Examples

  • 彼かれはいわゆる天才てんさいだ。

    He's what you'd call a genius.

  • これがいわゆる日本にほんの「おもてなし」だ。

    This is what they call Japanese hospitality.

  • 彼女かのじょはいわゆる帰国子女きこくしじょだ。

    She's what's called a returnee: she grew up abroad.

  • いわゆるブラック企業きぎょうで働はたらいていた。

    I used to work for what's known as an exploitative company.

  • いわゆる「オタク」の文化ぶんかに興味きょうみがある。

    I'm interested in so-called otaku culture.

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