Japanese word

冗談

Pronunciation

Romajijōdan

Meaning

  • nounjoke

Example

それは冗談です。so re wa jō dan de su

That's a joke.

Illustration for 冗談 (joke)

More examples

彼の冗談にみんなが笑いました。kare no jō dan ni mi n na ga wara i ma shi ta

Everyone laughed at his joke.

Core concept

A playful remark separates its surface meaning from the speaker's serious intent, often making conversation lighter.

Common phrases

  • 冗談を言うjō dan o yū

    tell a joke

  • 冗談が通じるjō dan ga tsū ji ru

    understand a joke

  • 冗談ではないjō dan de wa na i

    be no joke

Similar words

からかいkarakai: A playful remark aimed at teasing someone.
しゃれshare: A witty expression built around similar sounds or double meanings.
軽口karukuchi: A casual joking remark made in a light conversational manner.

Definition in Japanese

本気ではなく、相手を笑わせたり場を和ませたりするために言うこと。hon ki de wa na ku ai te o wara wa se ta ri ba o nago ma se ta ri su ru ta me ni i u ko to

Word origin

冗談 (jōdan) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 冗 (jō, "superfluous") and 談 (dan, "talk"), referring to idle or unnecessary talk.

Usage tips

  • A 冗談 (jōdan) may be based on something untrue, but listeners understand from the context and tone that the speaker is not presenting it as a serious fact.

Other meanings

  • kiddingnoun

Related words

  • 冗談めかすjōdanmekasuspeak jokinglyverb

Word lists with this word