冗談

• Reading: じょうだん
• Romaji: joudan
• Kanji breakdown: 冗 (jō) — superfluous, redundant; 談 (dan) — talk, discuss
• Pronunciation: /dʑo.ɯ.da.n/

Meaning

Joke; jest; funny story. Something said to make people laugh, not to be taken seriously.

Primarily a noun. Common patterns include 冗談を言う (to tell a joke), 冗談でしょう (you must be joking), and 冗談じゃない (this is no joke / you cannot be serious). An important social lubricant in Japanese conversation, though the style of humour differs significantly from Western jokes.

Examples

1. 田中さんはいつも面白い冗談を言う。 Mr. Tanaka always tells funny jokes.
2. 値段を聞いて冗談だと思った。 When I heard the price, I thought it was a joke.
3. 冗談はやめてください。本当のことを教えて。 Stop joking around. Tell me the truth.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, social situations, entertainment

Tone: humorous

Origin & History

Compound of 冗 (jō, superfluous/redundant) and 談 (dan, talk). Literally means superfluous talk — words that go beyond what is necessary, i.e., playful or humorous remarks.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal