シュール
Meaning: Surreal or absurdly funny — describing humour or situations that are bizarre in an amusing way.
シュール in Japanese does not carry the heavy philosophical weight of French surréalisme. Instead, it describes a particular flavour of humour or situation that is so bizarre, unexpected, or deadpan that it becomes funny. A comedian standing silently for 30 seconds, a cat wearing a business suit, or an inexplicably strange advertisement would all be described as シュール. It is always used with a sense of bemused appreciation — the absurdity is the point, and it is enjoyed rather than rejected.
Examples
- あのコント、シュールすぎて最初意味わからなかった。 那个小品太荒诞了,一开始完全没看懂。Ese sketch era tan surrealista que al principio no entendí nada.그 콩트, 너무 슈르해서 처음에는 무슨 뜻인지 몰랐어.
- シュールな光景だった、おじさんが公園でバレエ踊ってた。 那个场景太超现实了,一个大叔在公园里跳芭蕾。Fue una escena surrealista: un señor bailando ballet en el parque.슈르한 광경이었어, 아저씨가 공원에서 발레를 추고 있었거든.
- このCMのシュールさがクセになる。 这个广告的荒诞感让人上瘾。Lo absurdo de este anuncio engancha.이 광고의 슈르함이 중독성 있어.
Pronunciation
/ɕɯː.ɾɯ/
Usage Guide
Context: comedy, describing bizarre situations, entertainment reviews, everyday conversation
Tone: amused, bewildered, appreciative
✓ Do Say
- シュールだけど面白い。 (It's surreal but funny.)虽然很荒诞但是很有趣。Es surrealista pero gracioso. (Es absurdo pero tiene gracia.)슈르하지만 웃기다. (황당하지만 재미있어.)
- あの芸人のシュールなネタが好き。 (I love that comedian's absurdist bits.)我喜欢那个喜剧演员的荒诞风格段子。Me encanta el humor absurdo de ese cómico. (Me gustan los sketches surrealistas de ese cómico.)그 개그맨의 슈르한 개그가 좋아. (그 코미디언의 부조리 개그가 좋아.)
✗ Don't Say
- フランス語の「シュルレアリスム」と同じ意味で使うと伝わらない (Using シュール with the same meaning as French surréalisme will confuse people — in Japanese it specifically means absurd humour)把「シュール」当作法语「surréalisme」的同义词来用会造成误解——在日语中它专指荒诞幽默Usar シュール con el mismo significado que el surrealismo francés confundirá a la gente — en japonés se refiere específicamente al humor absurdo프랑스어 「シュルレアリスム」과 같은 의미로 쓰면 통하지 않는다 (シュール를 프랑스 초현실주의와 같은 의미로 사용하면 상대가 혼란스러워한다 — 일본어에서는 구체적으로 부조리한 유머를 뜻한다)
Common Mistakes
- Expecting シュール to carry the art-historical weight of 'surrealism' — in Japanese it is a much lighter, everyday word for absurd comedy
Origin & History
Borrowed from French surréalisme via English 'surreal,' but adapted in Japanese to specifically describe absurd humour rather than the art movement. The word entered mainstream Japanese through comedy criticism in the 1990s, when deadpan and absurdist comedy acts gained popularity.
Cultural Context
Era: 1990s comedy culture
Generation: Millennials and younger
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. シュール笑い (surreal laughter) is a recognised comedy genre, with acts like ラーメンズ and 千鳥 often described this way.
More From This Topic
More from Classic Slang (Still Used)
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free