挿話

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 挿話, read そうわ, means a short narrative inserted into a larger story.
• Basic usage: It refers to a story supplementing the main plot, such as an account of a character’s childhood.
  • 小説の途中に主人公の少年時代を描く挿話が入る。

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• An inserted story and an anecdote
  • 挿話 focuses on a story’s placement and role within a larger narrative. 逸話 refers to an interesting anecdote illustrating a person or event.