GRAMMAR
いわゆる
so-called
Explanation
NOTE
いわゆる means so-called or what is called — labeling a noun by its commonly known name.
彼はいわゆる天才だ。
He is what you would call a genius.
Marks 天才 as the widely-used label that fits this person.
NOTE
It is adnominal — placed directly before a noun, never modifying verbs or adjectives.
NOTE
Use it to introduce a common term, often a buzzword, stereotype, or category everyone recognizes.
STRUCTURE
N辞
いわゆる彼彼はいわゆる天才です。
Kare wa iwayuru tensai desu.
He is a so-called genius.
あれはいわゆる大きな問題ですね。
Are wa iwayuru ookina mondai desu ne.
That is what you would call a big problem, isn't it?
これはいわゆる日本食ではありません。
Kore wa iwayuru nihonshoku dewa arimasen.
This is not what you would call 'Japanese food'.
これがいわゆる逆転勝ちだ。
Kore ga iwayuru gyakutengachi da.
This is what they call a come-from-behind win.
彼女はいわゆるキャリアウーマンだ。
Kanojo wa iwayuru kyariauuman da.
She is a so-called career woman.
東京はいわゆる大都会だ。
Toukyou wa iwayuru daitokai da.
Tokyo is what you'd call a big city.
Practice exercises
1
要するに、彼は所謂問題児だ。
In short, he is a so-called problem child.
Answer
所謂
2
彼の研究は新しいが、従って所謂主流ではない。
His research is new; therefore, it's not the so-called mainstream.
Answer
所謂
3
彼は所謂天才だと言われるが、そうではない。
He is said to be a so-called genius, but that's not the case.
Answer
所謂
4
彼の作品は、所謂難解アートと評される。
His work is regarded as so-called esoteric art.
Answer
所謂
5
どうせ勝てない、所謂負け犬だ。
Since we can't win anyhow, we're the so-called losers.
Answer
所謂