芝居

• Reading: しばい
• Romaji: shibai
• Kanji breakdown: 芝 (shiba) — grass, lawn; 居 (i) — to sit, to be
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.ba.i/

Meaning

Play; drama; theatre performance. Also used figuratively to mean an act or pretence.

A noun referring to theatrical performances, from traditional kabuki to modern stage plays. Also commonly used in everyday conversation to describe someone pretending or putting on an act (芝居をする). Can appear in compounds like お芝居 (polite form) and 芝居がかった (theatrical, melodramatic).

Examples

1. 週末に友達と芝居を見に行く。 I'm going to see a play with friends this weekend.
2. 彼の涙は芝居だったらしい。 His tears were apparently just an act.
3. 子供たちが学校で芝居をすることになった。 The children are going to put on a play at school.

Usage Guide

Context: entertainment, daily conversation, arts

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Originally referred to sitting on the grass (芝 = grass, 居 = to sit) to watch outdoor performances in medieval Japan. The word evolved to mean the performance itself.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal