洒落

• 読み: しゃれ
• ローマ字: share
• 漢字の分解: 洒 (sha) — to sprinkle, clean | 落 (re/raku) — to fall, to drop
• 発音: /ɕa.ɾe/

意味

Pun; wordplay; witticism. Also used to mean fashionable or stylish (お洒落). In communication contexts, refers specifically to verbal wit and wordplay.

A noun with two distinct senses: (1) verbal wit — a pun, clever play on words, or light joke, and (2) stylish appearance or behaviour (お洒落). In the communication sense, 洒落を言う or 洒落を飛ばす means to make a witty remark or pun. Japanese 洒落 (dajare) often relies on homophones and is a staple of a certain style of gentle humour sometimes called おやじギャグ.

例文

1. 彼の言う洒落は古すぎて、若い世代にはさっぱり伝わらなかった。
2. 深刻な空気の中に一言洒落を飛ばし、その場の緊張をほぐした。
3. 洒落の通じる相手と話すと、会話が何倍も楽しくなる。

使い方ガイド

場面: humour, social gatherings, wordplay, daily conversation

トーン: light-hearted

起源と歴史

The character 洒落 combines 洒 (to sprinkle, to wash clean) and 落 (to fall, to drop). Originally described something lightly, cleanly expressed. The verbal-wit sense emphasises the sparkling, nimble quality of a good pun or quip.

文化的背景

時代: Edo–Modern

世代: All ages

社会的背景: General