Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 風刺画 | fūshiga | [ɸɯ̟ːɕiɡa̠] (narrow) |
| 戯画 | giga | [ɡʲiɡa̠] (narrow) |
| 漫画 | mangwa | [mã̠ŋɡa̠] (narrow) |
| カリカチュア | karikachua | [ka̠ɾʲika̠t͡ɕɨa̠] (narrow) |
Japanese uses different terms for caricature depending on whether the focus is on social satire, artistic exaggeration or general comics. While 漫画 is often used for cartoons, it is a much broader term for comics and is not a direct synonym for a single satirical caricature.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 風刺画 is composed of 風刺 (satire) and 画 (drawing or picture).
Which one should you use?
風刺画 specifically implies a caricature used for social or political satire. 戯画 refers to a caricature or a drawing that exaggerates features for comic or grotesque effect, often used in a more artistic or literary context than 風刺画. 漫画 refers to cartoons or manga more broadly. カリカチュア is a transliterated loanword from English.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
カリカチュア is a loanword used in academic or specialized art contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
fūshiga
Did you know?
- The term 漫画 originally meant 'drawings made as one pleases', but in an older context, it was also the name used for a species of Eurasian spoonbill bird.
Examples in context
- あの人によって、大統領が戯画化され、政権の権威と綱紀が乱されてはなるまい。According to him, the president must not be turned into a caricature, the loss of authority and public order cannot be borne.This sentence is useful for showing how the term 戯画 is used when discussing the transformation of a person into a caricature.Tatoeba #542180 by xtofu80, translation #542365 by blay_paul
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are looking at an art gallery wall.
- 結衣 Yui見て、この風刺画すごく似ているね。Mite, kono fūshiga sugoku nite iru ne.Look, this caricature looks just like him.
- 陽太 Yota本当だね。鼻が強調されていて面白い。Hontō da ne. Hana ga kyōchō sarete ite omoshiroi.You're right. The nose is exaggerated, it's funny.
- 結衣 Yui誰が描いたのかな。Dare ga kaita no kana.I wonder who drew it.
- 陽太 Yota有名な風刺画家だそうだよ。Yūmeina fūshigaka da sō dayo.I heard it's by a famous caricaturist.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “caricature” translations and entries 風刺画, 戯画, 漫画, カリカチュア, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries カリカチュア, 漫画, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
