面白い人
omoshiroi hito
To say that someone is funny in Japanese, you use 面白い人 (omoshiroi hito).
The core adjective, 面白い, is a basic and widely used term that can mean either 'funny' or 'interesting' depending on the context. If you want to specifically convey that someone has a good sense of humor, you can also use the phrase ユーモアのある.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 面白い人 is composed of the adjective 面白い (omoshiroi), meaning 'interesting' or 'funny' and the noun 人 (hito), meaning 'person'.
Which one should you use?
While 面白い (omoshiroi) can mean either 'funny' or 'interesting' based on context, the phrase ユーモアのある is used specifically to describe a person with a good sense of humor.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The informal term おもろい is mainly used in Japanese dialects, particularly in western Japan, including Osaka.
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate that someone was a funny person in the past tense, you can add the auxiliary でした to the end of the phrase to form 面白い人でした.
How do you pronounce it?
omoshiroi hito
Did you know?
- The adjective 面白い is composed of the characters for 'face' and 'interesting'. In ancient times, it referred to the visual appeal of a colorful or striking appearance.
- If you want to say someone is 'hilarious' in a more slangy, rhythmic way, you might hear ウケる, which literally means 'to catch' or 'to receive'. It describes the reaction of an audience catching a joke.
- In Japanese social dynamics, calling a superior 面白い人 can sometimes be perceived as slightly impolite. It can imply that the person is an 'oddity' or a source of amusement rather than a respected leader.
Examples in context
- 田中さんはとてもおもしろいですね。Mr./Ms. Tanaka is very funny, isn't he/she?
- 彼女はユーモアのある人です。She's a person with a good sense of humor.
- あの人、すごくおもろいやん！That person is really funny!
- 彼の冗談、めっちゃおかしい！His jokes are so funny!
- 彼はとても面白い人です。Kare wa totemo omoshiroi hito desu.He is a very funny person.
- あの人は面白い人ですね。Ano hito wa omoshiroi hito desu ne.That person is a funny person, isn't he?
- 面白い人が好きです。Omoshiroi hito ga suki desu.I like funny people.
Example conversation
Hime and Ren are talking about a new classmate.
- 陽葵 Himari新しいクラスメートはどう？Atarashii kurasumēto wa dō?How is the new classmate?
- 蓮 Renすごく面白い人だよ。Sugoku omoshiroi hito da yo.He is a very funny person.
- 陽葵 Himariそれはいいですね。Sore wa ii desu ne.That's good.
- 蓮 Renみんな彼が大好きだよ。Minna kare ga daisuki da yo.Everyone loves him.
