いわゆる～

About

「いわゆる」 means "what is called...; the so-called..." and is used in both spoken and written contexts to say that something is known as X.

いわゆる can be used to either clarify that "X belongs to category Y", where "Y" is a common term, or it can attach to more obscure terms and express that "X is a thing called Y".

E.g. 「ノートパソコン」はいわゆる和製英語わせいえいごの一ひとつです。 "'Noto pasokon" is one example of what is called "wasei eigo'."

E.g. マイクは、いわゆるやり手てだ。 "Mike is a so-called go-getter."

E.g. ゴッホはいわゆる「ポスト印象派いんしょうは」の画家がかだ。 "Gogh is a so-called "post-impressionist" painter."

いわゆる has a written feel to it, and sounds a bit stiff when used in conversation.

Summary

• 

  「いわゆる」 means "what is called...; the so-called..."

• 

  いわゆる can be used to either clarify that "X belongs to category Y", where "Y" is a common term, or it can attach to more obscure terms and express that "X is a thing called Y"

• 

  いわゆる has a written feel to it, and sounds a bit stiff when used in conversation