Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| クリシェ | kurishe | [kɯ̟ɾʲiɕe̞] (narrow) |
| 決まり文句 | kimari monku | [kʲima̠ɾʲi mõ̞ŋkɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 常套語 | jōtōgo | [d͡ʑo̞ːto̞ːɡo̞] (narrow) |
The term for "cliché" in Japanese varies significantly depending on whether you are discussing a tired trope in a story or a standard phrase used in daily life. クリシェ is a loanword frequently used by fans of anime, manga and video games to describe overused plot devices or character tropes. In contrast, 決まり文句 refers more generally to any fixed expression or idiom used in everyday conversation. An example of a phrase often considered a cliché in Japan is 今日は良い天気ですね (It's nice weather today, isn't it) when used as a conversation starter.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 決まり文句 (kimari monku) is composed of 決まり (kimari), meaning "fixed" or "decided" and 文句 (monku), meaning "phrase" or "expression".
Which one should you use?
While クリシェ is a loanword used specifically to describe a tired or unoriginal trope in creative works, 決まり文句 is a more general term for any fixed expression or idiom used in daily conversation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a formal or academic context, you can use 常套語 or 平凡な表現, the latter meaning a commonplace expression or ordinary phrase. In informal situations, you might use お決まりのセリフ, which refers to a repetitive line or standard phrase. 常套語 is a more formal, academic or literary term than the more common 決まり文句.
How do you pronounce it?
kurishe
When do people say it?
In Japan, the phrase 今日は良い天気ですね is often viewed as a cliché when people use it to start a conversation.
Did you know?
- In many Japanese creative contexts, instead of saying something is a cliché, people might say it is 'too predictable' using the term ベタ (beta), which literally describes something thick or sticky.
- While English speakers use 'cliché' as a criticism, the phrase お決まりのセリフ is often used to describe a character's 'catchphrase' in anime, treating the cliché as a beloved trademark.
- Using a 決まり文句 such as commenting on the weather is often a strategic social tool in Japan to maintain harmony without requiring deep personal disclosure.
Examples in context
- 彼の話はいつも平凡な表現ばかりで、新鮮味に欠けています。His stories always rely on mundane expressions, lacking freshness.
- あの映画のお決まりのセリフは本当に面白いですね。The repetitive lines in that movie are really entertaining, aren't they?
- この映画の結末は、クリシェが多い。Kono eiga no ketsumatsu wa, kurishe ga ooi.The ending of this movie is full of clichés.
- 物語にクリシェを取り入れるのは簡単だ。Monogatari ni kurishe o toriireru no wa kantan da.It is easy to incorporate clichés into a story.
Example conversation
Yota and Himari are discussing a movie they just watched.
- 陽太 Yotaあの映画の結末、クリシェだと思わない？Ano eiga no ketsumatsu, kurishe da to omowanai?Don't you think the ending of that movie was a cliché?
- 陽葵 Himari確かに。予想通りの展開だったね。Tashika ni. Yosou doori no tenkai datta ne.True. It unfolded exactly as expected.
- 陽太 Yotaもっと意外な結末が欲しかったな。Motto igai na ketsumatsu ga hoshikatta na.I wish there had been a more unexpected ending.
- 陽葵 Himariでも、そういう王道な話も好きだよ。Demo, sou iu oudou na hanashi mo suki da yo.But I also like those kinds of classic stories.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cliché” translations and entries クリシェ, 決まり文句, 常套語, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
