冗談
jōdan[d͡ʑo̞ːdã̠ɴ]
The English phrase "kidding" can be translated into Japanese as 冗談 (jōdan).
冗談 is a word used to say that someone is joking and not being serious.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Using 冗談です is a polite way to say "I'm kidding," suitable for acquaintances or semi-formal settings. For friends or family, you can use the informal 冗談だよ. In very casual contexts, you might use 冗談だろう? to mean "It's a joke, right?" or the slangy マジかよ? to express disbelief or to tease someone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun 冗談 is often used with the verb 言う (iu), meaning "to say," to form the verb phrase 冗談を言う, which means "to joke" or "to tell a joke." If you want to tell someone to stop joking, you can use the phrase 冗談はやめて.
How do you pronounce it?
jōdan
Did you know?
- The word 冗談 literally translates to 'superfluous talk' or 'unnecessary conversation'.
- In Japanese culture, saying 冗談です can sometimes be used as a social 'safety valve' to soften a harsh truth or a criticism after it has been delivered.
- While English speakers often say 'just kidding' as a quick afterthought, Japanese speakers may use the phrase 冗談半分 to describe doing something 'half-joking', where the intent is intentionally ambiguous.
Examples in context
- 冗談ですよ。I'm just kidding.Tatoeba #398520 by bunbuku, translation #398513 by CM
- 冗談でしょ？You're kidding me.Tatoeba #3495530 by arnab, translation #1895604 by CK
- 冗談でしょ！You've got to be kidding me!Tatoeba #9296073 by small_snow, translation #2030119 by CK
- 冗談ですよね？You're kidding, right?
- 冗談だろう？You must be kidding, right?
- マジかよ？Are you serious? / You're joking, right?
- ほんまに（笑）Really? (laughs) / Are you kidding?
- 36 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a sudden change in plans.
- 大翔 Hiroto明日、旅行に行かないよ。Ashita, ryokou ni ikanai yo.We aren't going on the trip tomorrow.
- 結衣 Yuiえっ、冗談でしょ？E, joudan desho?What, you're kidding, right?
- 大翔 Hirotoいや、冗談だよ。Iya, joudan da yo.No, I'm kidding.
- 結衣 Yuiびっくりしたよ！Bikkuri shita yo!You startled me!
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.
