ピエロ
piero[pʲie̞ɾo̞]
The English word clown is translated into Japanese as ピエロ (piero) or 道化師.
Meaning: performance artist working in a circus (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ピエロ | piero | [pʲie̞ɾo̞] (narrow) |
| 道化師 | dōkeshi | [do̞ːke̞ɕi] (narrow) |
Both terms refer to a performance artist working in a circus.
Which one should you use?
The word 道化師 is a more formal or literary term for a clown or jester.
How do you pronounce it?
piero
Did you know?
- The word ピエロ comes from the French character 'Pierrot', a sad and naive clown. Because of this origin, Japanese speakers often associate ピエロ with a melancholic or lonely image rather than just a funny one.
- The suffix 師 in 道化師 is the same one used for highly respected professionals like doctors or teachers. This adds a strange layer of 'professionalism' to the word for a buffoon.
- In Japanese pop culture, the concept of the 道化師 is frequently linked to the 'trickster' archetype, appearing as a mysterious figure who manipulates events from behind the scenes.
Examples in context
- そのピエロはわざと転んだ。The clown fell down on purpose.This sentence is useful for seeing how ピエロ is used to describe a character's deliberate actions.Tatoeba #212702 by small_snow, translation #49985 by CK
- ピエロが面白い顔をした。Piero ga omoshiroi kao o shita.The clown made a funny face.
- サーカスでピエロを見た。Saakasu de piero o mita.I saw a clown at the circus.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a circus they visited.
- 美咲 Misakiピエロは可愛かった？Piero wa kawaikatta?Was the clown cute?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、とても面白いピエロだったよ。Un, totemo omoshiroi piero datta yo.Yeah, he was a very funny clown.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔くんはピエロが好き？Hiroto-kun wa piero ga suki?Do you like clowns, Hiroto?
- 大翔 Hiroto大好きだよ。Daisuki da yo.I love them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clown” translations and entries ピエロ, 道化師, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ピエロ, 道化師, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
