Japanese word

落語

Pronunciation

Romajirakugo

Meaning

  • nouncomic storytelling

Example

私は落語をよく聞きます。watashi wa raku go o yo ku ki ki ma su

I often listen to comic storytelling.

Illustration for 落語 (comic storytelling)

More examples

落語では、一人の演者が何人もの登場人物を演じ分けます。raku go de wa hito ri no en ja ga nan nin mo no tō jō jin butsu o en ji wa ke ma su

In rakugo, one performer plays several characters.

Core concept

Rakugo centers on one seated performer who voices several characters and guides a humorous story toward a final punch line.

Common phrases

  • 落語を聞くraku go o ki ku

    listen to rakugo

  • 落語を演じるraku go o en ji ru

    perform rakugo

  • 落語のオチraku go no o chi

    the punch line of a rakugo story

Definition in Japanese

一人の話し手が座ったまま複数の人物を演じ分け、最後の落ちで笑わせる日本の話芸。hito ri no hana shi te ga suwa tta ma ma fuku sū no jin butsu o en ji wa ke sai go no o chi de wara wa se ru nihon no wa gei

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 落語 (rakugo) combines 落 (raku, "fall") and 語 (go, "word") and is a shortened form of 落とし噺 (otoshibanashi, "a story with a punch line").

Usage tips

  • Rakugo performers draw on a traditional repertoire but develop individual versions of stories, making the art a blend of established texts and personal delivery.

Related words

  • 落語家rakugokarakugo performernoun

Word lists with this word