冗談
jōdan[d͡ʑo̞ːdã̠ɴ]
The English word 'jest' is translated into Japanese as 冗談 (jōdan).
冗談 means a joke or a jest.
Meaning: joke (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun 冗談 is often used with the verb 言う (iu, to say) to form the phrase 冗談を言う (to tell a joke).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is [jōdan].
Did you know?
- If a joke is particularly bad or a 'dad joke', it is often called 寒い (samui), which literally means 'cold'.
- The word 冗談 is composed of two characters that literally mean 'superfluous' and 'talk'. It implies that a joke is an unnecessary or extra conversation that serves no practical purpose.
- In Japanese, the phrase 冗談じゃない (jōdan janai) literally means 'it is not a joke'. However, it is commonly used as an angry exclamation meaning 'you have got to be kidding me' or 'this is outrageous'.
Examples in context
- 冗談に言ったことが本当になる場合がたくさんある。There's many a true word spoken in jest.This sentence illustrates the proverb 'There's many a true word spoken in jest' using 冗談.Tatoeba #146114 by bunbuku, translation #268448 by CM
- 会議の中での戯談は、場の緊張をほぐすことができる。Jests during meetings can help ease the tension in the room.
- それはただの冗談だよ。Sore wa tada no jōdan da yo.That was just a joke.
- 冗談はやめてください。Jōdan wa yamete kudasai.Please stop joking around.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking after one of them makes a silly comment.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太君、今の冗談でしょ？Yōta-kun, ima no jōdan desho?Yota, you're joking, right?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、冗談だよ。Un, jōdan da yo.Yeah, it's a joke.
- 美咲 Misakiびっくりしたよ。Bikkuri shita yo.You startled me.
- 陽太 Yotaごめん、ごめん。Gomen, gomen.Sorry, sorry.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 冗談, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 冗談, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
