Japanese word

芝居

Pronunciation

Romajishibai

Meaning

  • nounplay

Example

学校で芝居を見ました。gak kō de shiba i o mi ma shi ta

I watched a play at school.

Illustration for 芝居 (play)

More examples

週末に家族と芝居を見に行きます。shū matsu ni ka zoku to shiba i o mi ni i ki ma su

I am going to see a play with my family this weekend.

Core concept

Centers on people presenting roles and events as a staged performance.

Common phrases

  • 芝居を見るshiba i o mi ru

    watch a play

  • 芝居に出るshiba i ni de ru

    appear in a play

  • 芝居をするshiba i o su ru

    put on a play

Similar words

演劇engeki: A theatrical work in which actors perform roles before an audience.
劇geki: A story performed on stage through dialogue, movement, and acting.
演技engi: An actor's performance of a role through speech, movement, and expression.

Definition in Japanese

役者が舞台で演じる物語または演技。yaku sha ga bu tai de en ji ru monogatari ma ta wa en gi

Word origin

The noun 芝居 (shibai) comes from 芝 (shiba, "grass") and 居 (i, "staying"), recalling spectators sitting on grass during early outdoor performances; its meaning then extended to the performance.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 芝居 (shibai) can refer to both a whole stage work and an actor's performance, so context determines whether play or acting fits.

Other meanings

  • dramanoun
  • actingnoun

Word lists with this word