Japanese word

芸人

Pronunciation

Romajigeinin

Meaning

  • nouncomedian

Example

私は芸人です。watashi wa gei nin de su

I am a comedian.

Illustration for 芸人 (comedian)

More examples

子どもたちはその芸人の楽しい話を聞きました。ko do mo ta chi wa so no gei nin no tano shi i hanashi o ki ki ma shi ta

The children listened to the comedian's funny stories.

Core concept

Describes a professional performer who uses a practiced act to entertain people, with comedy as a common form.

Common phrases

  • 有名な芸人yū mei na gei nin

    famous comedian

  • 若手芸人waka te gei nin

    young comedian

Similar words

お笑い芸人owaraigeinin: A performer whose main act is comedy, such as telling jokes or creating comic scenes.
芸能人geinōjin: A person who works professionally in entertainment, including performance in media or on stage.
演者enja: A person who performs an act before an audience.

Definition in Japanese

人前で身につけた芸を披露し、観客を楽しませる職業の人。hito mae de mi ni tsu ke ta gei o hi rō shi kan kyaku o tano shi ma se ru shoku gyō no hito

Word origin

The word 芸人 (geinin) joins 芸 (gei, "art or performance") with 人 (nin, "person"), giving the sense of a person who performs an art for others.

Usage tips

  • The English word comedian is usually the closest everyday translation of 芸人 (geinin), although Japanese usage can also cover other professional performers.

Other meanings

  • entertainernoun

Opposites

  • 素人shirōtoamateurnoun

Word lists with this word