Japanese word

漫才

Pronunciation

Romajimanzai

Meaning

  • nountwo-person comedy act

Example

友達と漫才を見ました。tomo dachi to man zai o mi ma shi ta

I watched a two-person comedy act with my friend.

Illustration for 漫才 (two-person comedy act)

More examples

彼は大会で漫才を披露しました。kare wa tai kai de man zai o hi rō shi ma shi ta

He performed a two-person comedy act at the competition.

Core concept

Centers on a lively exchange in which two performers create humor through timing, contrast, and quick responses.

Common phrases

  • 漫才を見るman zai o mi ru

    watch a two-person comedy act

  • 漫才をするman zai o su ru

    perform a two-person comedy act

Definition in Japanese

二人の演者が掛け合いをしながら、軽妙な話術で笑いを生み出す演芸。futa ri no en ja ga ka ke a i o shi na ga ra kei myō na wa jutsu de wara i o u mi da su en gei

Word origin

The comedy term 漫才 (manzai) developed from 万歳 (manzai), a traditional celebratory performance; 万 (man, "ten thousand") and 歳 (sai, "year") express a wish for long life.

Usage tips

  • Manzai is often compared with stand-up comedy, but it usually depends on a prepared back-and-forth between two performers rather than one performer speaking alone.

Other meanings

  • comic dialoguenoun

Related words

  • 漫才師manzaishicomediannoun

Word lists with this word